Italy is a top destination for tourists as well as company retreats. Why does it attract us all time and time again?
Italy has it all. It combines all the elements that create a genuinely transformative offsite experience with your team. But when you come to Italy for a team retreat, you do not just come for the perfect weather and setting. There is so much to learn and take from the rich Italian culture, whether it is in the kitchen or in “the office”.
Italy had a historic role in Europe during the Roman Empire and was the cradle of the European artistic Renaissance. Its culture has touched and spread to many other countries, and its impact remains strong to this day.
Only the 10th European country by its size and 6th by its population, the “boot-shaped” nation counts 59 UNESCO World Heritage sites, just ahead of China.
“El arte de far niente” is a relatively popular Italian philosophy that encourages anyone to fully appreciate doing nothing. Maybe a less internationally known concept but equally powerful is “Fare squadra." It translates into “working as a team” (or make a team) that emphasises team unity, collaboration, and collective effort. Primarily used in sports at first, in recent years, it has been applied to many other contexts, including the professional sphere. “Fare squadra” has become a reference in leadership, and inclusivity and diversity training as a way to bring people from different backgrounds and abilities together.
It is about creating a strong sense of belonging and cohesion, highlighting individual contributions while using collective intelligence, and promoting cross-disciplinary skills and team-building activities.
Italian culture is a strongly collaborative one.
Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of most company cultures, where trust and loyalty are nurtured.
Despite a strong hierarchical system, communication and feedback from all levels are encouraged.
They prioritise human connections; that is why building strong relationships in and outside the workspace is an essential part of Italian culture, and social activities often invite themselves to the office with regular after-work drinks, team lunches, and BBQs. Organised or not by the company, these team bonding activities contribute to a strong sense of belonging and unity.
Italians also tend to be resourceful and creative and to think outside the box when it comes to problem-solving, which is precisely what team retreats are here to do!
Despite its immense creative history, from the aqueducts to the first espresso machines, Italians have not rested on their laurels and constantly used those strong traditions of hard work and creativity to innovate. With more than 100,000 high-tech companies, the country holds Europe's fastest-growing life science sector. It is also a leader in renewable energy, the pharmaceutical industry, and robotics.
It is no secret that food goes way beyond nutrition in Italian culture. It is an essential part of the social fabric of any community, from the family unit to the village.
Meals are seen as precious moments for family and friends and are most of the time taken communally. It is a time to share about the day-to-day joys and challenges. Because they are shared, they tend to take longer than in most other European countries, but that time is not considered wasted; on the contrary, it is a decisive moment of connection. Italian meals also have several courses encouraging a slower and more mindful approach to food.
Long-term vision, critical analysis, systems thinking, creativity, adaptability, and decision-making are key aspects of strategic thinking, which companies work to nurture through regular team retreats, among other things.
It might seem farfetched initially, but the Italian landscape can substantially foster those aspects.
Research has shown time and time again the profound influence the natural world can have on our mindset.
The serenity and vastness of some rolling hills in Tuscany and the tranquil waters of the lakes can bring a sense of awe and deep reflection. At the same time, the coastal activities and dramatic volcanic regions can emphasise the dynamic, interconnection, and ever-changing state of it all.
The resilience of century-old olive trees underlines the importance of long-term vision and sustainability… the Italian landscape is filled with metaphorical learnings.
It has been proven repeatedly that our environment impacts our stress levels.
Everything around us affects us and how we feel, from the built environment to the colour of the sky and the air quality.
While highly urbanised environments are associated with increased levels of stress (air and noise pollution are easy, but not the sole, culprits), green and blue spaces (parks, fields, lakes, bodies of water) are linked to lowering humans’ anxiety and even depression as being in nature reduces our nervous system alertness. It has even been shown to increase our self-esteem and immune system function!
It is not just the natural world that can affect how we feel and interact. Architectural spaces also impact our creativity and inspiration. The way a space is designed, how it lets light and nature in, and how flexible it is, in addition to the use of texture, shapes, and colours, all of that can influence our thinking and well-being.
With thousands of square meters of natural beauty and a world-renowned collection of architectural and artistic wonders, Italy is the perfect place to offer all of the above.
Beyond a simple getaway destination, Italy offers a transformative experience to any team that will fully embrace everything it has to offer: not just a beautiful corporate retreat location but everything around it, the culture and knowledge from the hosts and service providers, the flavours of the food and meal settings, the landscapes and what they can teach us.
They are all here to help fundamentally rethink your team's potential and imagine what it could be outside the usual “box”.
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