Ancient Beauty - A Creative Art Appreciation Workshop in Greece

Ancient Beauty: Healing Grief through Creative Restoration

Led by Rissa Miller

Just a short walk from Villa Amfiario lies an ancient site associated with the earliest organized art therapy practices in the Western world — a remarkable and seldom visited place where the ancient Greeks explored restoration of mind, heart, and spirit through creativity and the arts.

This immersive retreat draws on that wisdom to gently address grief in its many forms, offering practices that help participants rebalance and reconnect with their sacred place in the world. Through playfulness, creative intuition, and meditative awareness, the week becomes a deep reflection on the healing power of art, nature, and beauty in all sensory forms.

Across 7 days, participants will be invited to deepen their creative practice and reconnect with innate joy and lightness as a sacred way of processing and transforming grief. Each day includes a 4-hour workshop with lectures and discussion on art history and art appreciation, creative and journal writing, sketching, walking meditation, music appreciation, movement therapy, and techniques for food appreciation and renewed connection with the natural world.

The itinerary also includes visits to the ancient archaeological site and museum of Delphi, the healing waters of Lake Vouliagmeni, and guided wine and food tastings.

All meals are freshly prepared by in-house private chefs, and all diets can be accommodated. The retreat is open to all levels of art, writing, and creative experience, and all meditation practices are suitable for beginners.

The workshop is led by Rissa Miller, art history and fine arts instructor at Montgomery College, Maryland, USA, with support from Marnee Wong, music and movement therapy instructor and grief counsellor.

Accommodations, hospitality, transport, and food are provided by Villa Amfiario.