Rooted & Radiant: Yoga, Creativity & Coaching by the river near Porto in an Artist Community

StartArt Residency is not a hotel. It's a living, breathing creative community where artists have been coming for the past two years to paint, think, make and be. Every mural on the wall tells a story.
The residency sits beside a river — with a swimming spot, kayaks and SUPs. The Peneda-Gerês National Park and Porto are just 50 minutes away. A swimming pool is also waiting for you.

The food is vegetarian, homemade and ingredients are bought from the local markets.

You'll sleep in newly built rooms for two (single beds, same-sex allocation) with ensuite bathroom, which is painted uniquely by former artists. You'll enjoy the communal lunches, evening events such as pizza or movie nights, walk barefoot on real ground, and breathe air, that doesn't smell like the city and relax in a quiet environment.

Food & Meals

Three times a day, we eat together.

All meals are vegetarian, freshly prepared in the house kitchen using ingredients bought from local markets — seasonal, colourful and made with care. Breakfasts are slow and nourishing. Lunches are shared around the table. Dinners stretch into the evening, with good conversation and the kind of warmth that only comes from eating with people you're starting to really know.

What makes mealtimes at StartArt special is who's at the table. Retreat participants and resident artists eat together — painters, photographers, writers, makers from all over the world. No agenda, no programme. Just food, people and whatever conversation finds its way in.

Thursday, Sept. 10 — Arriving & Landing
❋ From 16:00 Arrival & check-in
❋ 18:30 Welcome circle & gentle Yin Yoga — arrive in your body and in the group
❋ 20:30 Dinner together

Friday, Sept. 11 — Going Back to Your Roots
❋ 08:00 Morning yoga: Stretch to Grow
❋ 09:00 Breakfast
❋ Coaching impulse: Where are you now? Where do you want to be?
❋ 13:00 Lunch
❋ Coaching impulse: What truly matters to you?
❋ Creative afternoon: colour, texture, intuition — inspired by the river and murals
❋ 17:30 Evening yoga: Getting Rooted
❋ 19:00 Dinner + free time

Saturday, Sept. 12 — Your Day, Your Way
❋ 08:00 Morning yoga: Stretch to Grow
❋ 09:00 Breakfast
Free day — choose your own adventure:
❋ Stay at the residency — swim in the river or pool, journal, wander, rest or take a kayak/SUP to explore the Rio Homem
❋ Take the taxi to Porto or Braga — cobblestones, coffee, galleries
❋ Walk around and explore the lush nature with its waterfalls — hike, breathe, let the landscape do its work
❋ 17:30 Evening yoga: Getting Rooted
❋ 19:00 Dinner + free time

Sunday, Sept. 13 — Get Inspired to Radiate
❋ 08:00 Morning yoga: Stretch to Grow
❋ 09:00 Breakfast
❋ Creative morning: Vision Board session with guided meditation and
intuitive imagery
❋ 13:00 Lunch
❋ Coaching session: Personal action planning — turning insight into real next steps
❋ 17:30 Evening yoga: Getting Rooted
❋ 19:00 Dinner + free evening

Monday, Sept. 14 — Your Next Step
❋ 08:00 Morning yoga: Stretch to Grow
❋ 09:00 Breakfast
❋ Closing ritual
❋ 13:00 Lunch
❋ Departure from 14:00

Getting There

Travel to and from the residency is not included in the retreat price.
StartArt Residency is located in Vila Verde, approximately 40–50 minutes from Porto Airport by Uber— expect around €50 per ride each way. Alternatively, you can use several bus lines to Braga and take an Uber for aprox. 10 € to StartArt Residency.
Once all participants are confirmed, I'll set up a WhatsApp group so you can connect with each other in advance and arrange shared rides if you'd like — a great way to split the cost and arrive together.