From Burnout to Borgo: A Remote Work Reset in Umbria’s Medieval Heart

Some journeys take you far; this one brought me closer—to stillness, to creativity, to myself. In the hilltop village of Vallo di Nera, hosted by Dolce Vita Coliving, I found something more nourishing than a vacation: a reset. Over two weeks, the noise of deadlines and dopamine-scrolling was replaced by the rustle of cypress leaves, slow mornings, and meaningful connection. It was the kind of change that doesn’t shout, but settles deeply.

☕ Mornings with Meaning

Each day began gently—no alarms, just the soft chime of distant church bells. We shared fresh-brewed coffee in the sunlit communal kitchen before choosing our "office" for the day: a cozy coworking space inside a 13th-century home, or a quiet bench overlooking the Nera River. The Wi-Fi was strong, but the real strength came from the rhythm: work that flowed without stress, framed by nature and shared silences.

🥾 Nature Walks & Soul Hikes

When my head needed clearing, the answer was just outside the village walls. The 10 km Vallo di Nera–Piedipaterno loop became my go-to. Lined with olive trees and sweeping hills, the trail led us through gentle climbs, local flora, and finally to Piedipaterno—where espresso and a simple panino tasted better after the journey. Hiking wasn’t just exercise; it was integration.

🍷 Flavors That Ground You

We cooked together, we toasted often. One day brought us to Montefalco, with its panoramic vineyards and bold Sagrantino wine. Another was spent foraging recipes at Spoleto’s farmers market, then turning them into a family-style feast. The kitchen at Dolce Vita wasn’t just where meals happened—it was where friendships formed and stories spilled out over plates of strangozzi al tartufo nero.

🎨 Creative Sparks in Unexpected Corners

In a quiet cellar, I watched Luigi, a local artist, paint with a calm focus I hadn’t felt in years. Something shifted. I picked up a brush again, then a pen. Others journaled or meditated. What we produced didn’t matter—it was the permission to create that changed us. That’s what Dolce Vita gives you: the stillness that invites ideas back in.

📍 Day Trips with Soul

Our little base in Vallo di Nera opened doors to big inspiration. Assisi was an hour away, and wandering through its stone alleys and frescoed basilicas was like walking through a prayer. Perugia’s vibrant street life and art corners fed our curiosity. Spoleto, especially during the Festival dei Due Mondi, reminded us that art is everywhere—sometimes loud, sometimes quietly waiting.

🧘 Letting Go, Tuning In

As the days passed, so did the rush. Meals lasted longer. Conversations went deeper. Sleep came easier. I stopped counting hours and started savoring them. This village—its stones, its people, its ancient pace—had worked its way into me. And I wasn’t the only one. Everyone who stayed seemed to leave lighter, clearer, a bit more themselves.

✨ One Village. One Stay. A New Way of Living.

Dolce Vita Coliving doesn’t offer a vacation. It offers space: to breathe, to reconnect, to remember who you are when the world quiets down. Whether you're coming to finish a project or rediscover joy in the mundane, this place gives you the room to do both. After two weeks here, I left with full journals, a few new friends, and the quiet certainty that something in me had shifted—for good.