About us

In 2014 begins the story that takes us on a journey to making our dream a reality

Our mission

To offer a complete reset for body, mind and spirit, to enable you to lead a more meaningful and fulfilled life, through an inside out transformation.

Through offering retreats in this piece of exclusive and secluded paradise, we aim to help people connect with their vision, purpose, and inner resources to make a difference in their environment. Be that as leaders in corporations, society and/or families.

At Quinta Marugo, we believe we can all make a difference to bring more peace, calm and connection to this world.

sitting under the night sky at Quinta Marugo, foto by Alicia Port

Our Story

The journey to making our dream a reality began in 2014. The goal: a complete lifestyle change that would inspire others to follow their dreams. From entrepreneurs in fast-paced Hong Kong to becoming the creators of an eco-sustainable retreat and wellbeing center in the heart of rural Portugal – Quinta Marugo – with the vision of bringing a bit more peace, calm and connection to the world.

Mary Ann

From Corporate Mindfulness and Executive Coach, to running Holistic Retreats and a Retreat Center...

In 2014, on a whim, I asked my then husband, Ugo, what he wanted to do when he retired.

"You want to be a what?!?”‍

I exclaimed when he replied that his dream was to become a farmer. When I subsequently asked myself if I wanted to be a farmer’s wife, I already knew the answer. Definitely not.

In cosmopolitan Hong Kong, where we were living at the time, my executive coaching, leadership development and corporate mindfulness business was enjoying a great success. So, as you can imagine, retiring to the country and living on a farm seemed absurd.

However, I had always dreamed of running a holistic retreat center. A place where I could put my certifications in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living (MBCL), Transformational Breathwork Facilitator, and recently my horse assisted coaching passion, to greater use. The idea began to form, Ugo’s farm and my holistic retreat. We could take both of our passions and my qualifications to create something special.

So that is how it all began, our journey to create a place where our respective dreams could come true.

At Quinta Marugo, I feel blessed to have the perfect environment to use my expertise to provide retreat guests with the space to reconnect with their inner resources, wisdom, compassion, and power.

Ugo’s story

I realized that my dream was to be a farmer, grow my own food and take care of the soil and land.

I grew up near Bergamo, where agriculture is predominant. My childhood was spent playing with the children of local farmers, helping them with their duties.

Later on, I worked in the fashion and entertainment business in Milan. In 2009, I relocated to Hong Kong and started my own company, importing fine Italian foods and wines, and providing catering to high-end customers. I enjoyed great success but when MaryAnn asked me what I wanted to do once I retired, I realized that my dream had always been to go back to my roots: to be a farmer, to grow my own food and care for the soil and land.

Thankfully, Mary Ann came around and we embarked on this dream together, relocating to the rural Portuguese region of Alentejo in 2019.

To prepare for my new life as a farmer, I studied Permaculture Design, where I learned how to apply the system that grows the delicious food you will be eating at Quinta Marugo. The essence of our farm-to-table philosophy is that by giving back more than we take, nature provides us with an abundance of food, which is more than enough to feed ourselves. Over the past three years we have been working on cultivating and enriching the soil and have found that this method is 100% effective.

The Animals

If you are up for it, our animals will give you unconditional, loving company and bring a smile to your face..

If you love dogs, Pino and Caravaggio will happily accompany you on your walks, while sitting in the middle of the pine forest or in front of the lake.
If you are a cat lover, Columbi, Gaia and Clara will make sure you are happy petting them or watching them play.
The cute donkeys, Iris, Camelia and Rosa will charm you and bring a smile to your face as you watch them run around and come up to you with their big loving eyes and twitching ears, looking for food.
Our horses Domino and Luigi will improve your Heart Rate Variability (HRV), giving you a sense of peace and tranquillity as you watch their majestic shapes from a distance or approach them.
Both Domino and Luigi will accompany you during our equine assisted leadership retreats.

The chickens’ antics will provide you with hours of entertainment as they peck the ground and you can feel grateful for their amazing eggs.

Quinta Marugo’s transformation

Creating an eco-sustainable retreat and wellbeing centre – Quinta Marugo - in the heartland of the Alentejo region of central Portugal.