Disconnecting to Connect: Krein 2025 Retreat – Nature, digital detox, and team bonding

For a digital company like Krein, spread across various offices and cities in Italy, human connection can often be reduced to calls, messages, and purely virtual interactions.

That’s why this year’s joint retreat between Krein and Riot Design was designed to be more than just a break from the daily routine.

It was a moment to fully disconnect from our devices (on the island, people coming from outside are not allowed to bring your own phones) and reconnect with ourselves, with nature, and with the entire team.

To achieve this, we chose an unusual destination, far from the typical corporate retreat locations: Gorgona Island, one of the last remaining prison-islands in Italy, accessible only with a special permit.

A challenging and unique setting where nature, rules, and the concept of “limitation” intertwine, offering new opportunities for human growth.

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[Disclaimer: All photos were taken with the help of La Viottola, as visitors are not allowed to bring or use their cellphones on Gorgona]

A day outside of time: Gorgona Island

We set sail from Livorno’s Medicean Port at 8:15 AM, heading towards the island.

After about an hour of navigation, we arrived on Gorgona accompanied by guides from La Viottola, for a hike that blended nature with reflection on the island’s history.

Gorgona hosts a prison community involved in a rehabilitation program focused on agricultural work and livestock farming — a setting of isolation, but also of deep personal responsibility, aimed at reintegrating individuals into society.

Under a scorching 35°C sun, we hiked the island’s trails in a demanding yet engaging trek. We shared water, effort, energy, and stories, along with trust and a shared sense of vulnerability that brought us closer together.

The experience ended with a refreshing swim in the island’s crystal-clear waters before our return at 5:00 PM, in accordance with the permit’s schedule.

It’s the smallest of the seven “sisters” of the Tuscan Archipelago, which legend says are pearls that slipped from Venus’s necklace. But more than anything, it’s a model — the model — of a prison where re-education and reintegration truly feel possible. Precisely because it is a prison-island, Gorgona is difficult to describe in words without having seen it. Rich in history, nature, and unique features, it’s far from a tourist destination. It’s a place outside the ordinary, best understood by walking its paths, listening to its stories, and entering the heart of a powerful social project: a prison not as punishment, but as an opportunity to rejoin society through work. At the heart of the “Gorgona model” is the idea of earned freedom — enjoying sunlight, having the ability to work, and engaging in conversation. A philosophy that has helped create a real community, where everyone contributes, nurturing a sense of belonging, sharing, and responsibility. This spirit is upheld by everyone involved: guards, inmates, administrators, educators, volunteers, and healthcare workers — all committed to living and working with constant and genuine respect for others and for themselves. A small island with a big heart.

(Source: La Viottola – Gorgona Island Visit)

Team building by the sea

The next day, we gathered again by the sea, this time in Pietrasanta. On the Versilia shoreline, we challenged ourselves with a fun and creative team-building activity.

Following a structured brief, we split into three teams and kicked off a friendly sandcastle competition. A pair of young lifeguards, recruited last-minute, enthusiastically took on the role of judges, awarding creativity, teamwork, and effort.

The experience wrapped up with a laid-back lunch under the beach umbrella — a simple but perfect ending.

Returning with something more

We came back with sun-kissed skin, sore muscles, but above all, with a renewed sense of unity. Spending nearly a whole day away from screens reminded us how valuable real presence is for a “fragmented” team like ours and how, amid the complexity of our daily work, the people beside us are what truly make the difference.

Thanks to La Viottola, to Patrizia and Fabrizio for their thoughtful guidance, and to every Krein team member who made this experience so meaningful.