TRENDY CORPORATE DESTINATION: PUGLIA, ITALY
The Heart behind Histó
RELAIS HISTÓ
Work and Wonder
WELLNES & SPA
Silence is the New Mindful Luxury
CULTURE IN MANDURIA, TARANTO
Archaeological walk through time Manduria invites you to discover its ancient soul
05 08 12 15 16
HISTORY AND WINE
Discover the legacy of Primitivo at its birthplace
CECILÉ — IN COLLABORATION WITH VERVE’S AESTHETIC SOUL PHOTOGRAPHERS
MICHAEL ZENNARIO
CECILIA LUKASZEWSKY
This issue of VERVE was curated, written, and photographed through lived experiences, personal vision, and deep gratitude.
Every detail, every story, and every moment shared here reflects my journey as a creative, a host, a traveler, and someone who believes beauty has the power to change the way we see the world
To every place that welcomed me, and every person who shared a moment of truth, grace, or joy thank you
I didn’t create VERVE because I wanted to start a magazine I created it because I couldn’t keep the stories inside me any longer
Stories of places that breathe. Of people who host with heart Of moments that move us beyond what words or photos can fully express.
For years, I’ve worked behind the scenes of corporate events, weddings, retreats, and creative experiences around the world I’ve walked into kitchens where time slows down. I’ve watched ideas take shape in the hands of florists, chefs, musicians, and hosts who give everything to a single unforgettable evening.
And I’ve come to understand: Celebration is a language of its own!
This magazine is not about perfection It’s about presence. About what lingers when the candles burn low, the music fades, and you’re left with something that changed you even just a little
I hope VERVE inspires you to see more, feel more, create more. To honor the people who make beauty quietly And to celebrate not for the sake of the party, but for the meaning it brings.
Thank you for reading, and welcome to the spirit of celebration!
Cecilia Lukaszewsky Founder & Editor-in-Chief
h e H e a r t B e h i n d H i s t
TG i o v a n n i C o l o m b a
In a world where true hospitality is becoming increasingly rare, meeting someone like Giovanni Colomba feels extraordinary At just 24 years old, Giovanni is not only the owner and manager of Relais Histó, but the gracious soul behind its every detail a modern gentleman with an old-world presence
Hosting an international group of top event planners, Giovanni welcomed us not as clients, but as guests in his home. And that’s precisely how Relais Histó feels: a place where elegance meets authenticity, and where the pressures of the outside world dissolve the moment you step onto its ancient stone paths.
Giovanni moves with quiet confidence attentive, humble, and sharply intuitive He personally oversees every element of the guest experience, from the curation of local wines and seasonal cuisine to the soft-spoken staff who treat the property like their own Under his leadership, this masseria becomes more than a venue It becomes a sanctuary
BY CECILÉ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL
Tucked into the ancient landscape just outside Taranto, surrounded by olive trees and whispers of time,
feels less like a hotel and more like a return
T i m e l e s s G r o u n d e d & R e m a r k a b l e
During our stay, Giovanni shared the history of the place not as a script, but through memories — weaving past and present into a living story that invites you to slow down, look inward, and feel the land with all five senses. There’s something intangible here: a peace, a clarity, a moment of stillness we often forget to seek.
Relais Histó may be carved in ancient stone, but its future is clearly shaped by this young, charismatic visionary. And in Giovanni’s hands, the spirit of Italian hospitality doesn’t just endure — it flourishes.
Relais Histó SANPIETRO SUL MARPICCOLO generalmanager@relaishisto.it @relais_histo
SILENT LUXURY CORPORATE TRAVEL WHERE CORPORATE VISION MEETS TIMELESS TRANQUILITY
In today’s business landscape, innovation and clarity aren’t found in boardrooms they’re born in places that inspire. Welcome to Relais Histó, a 14th-century monastery-turned-luxury retreat in Puglia, where ancient stone cloisters, Mediterranean gardens, and panoramic views of the Mar Piccolo provide the perfect stage for transformative corporate experiences
A Sanctuary for Strategy
Relais Histó offers more than a setting it delivers an atmosphere that fosters creativity, focus, and human connection. From intimate executive meetings to immersive leadership retreats, this historic estate seamlessly blends technology with tranquility
• Meeting spaces: Fully-equipped conference rooms in ancient vaulted halls
• Breakout areas: Terraced gardens, spa lounges, poolside decks
• WiFi & tech: Discreet yet powerful, designed to let nature take center stage.
Originally a 14th-century monastery, this masseria-turned-sanctuary now hosts a different kind of devotion: to wellbeing, to leadership, and to the beauty of intentional space.
High stone arches, minimalist interiors, and gentle light set the tone for corporate retreats that feel less like strategy sessions and more like soulwork. This is where boardroom pressure gives way to barefoot visioning
The wellness area is a masterpiece. The cuisine, vibrant and local The service invisible, intuitive, perfect
VERVE recommends:
- Private estate buyout
- Olive grove dinner
- Wellness experiences
This is not just a venue. This is a mindset. This is where leadership breathes again
The corporate packages go far beyond the typical. Think olive oil or wine tastings with local producers, mindfulness walks along ancient Roman paths, and private cooking classes with Puglian chefs all designed to bond teams and ignite new perspectives.
• Wine tasting experiences in historic cellars
• Team-building yoga sessions in the olive groves
• Curated cultural tours: Taranto’s old town, underground crypts, artisan workshops
The award-winning Histó Spa integrates Roman and Eastern influences a sanctuary for tired minds and bodies. From steam rituals to detox therapies, it’s ideal for executives seeking balance between high performance and wellbeing
Whether you’re planning an incentive trip, a product launch, or a three-day vision summit, LUKAMOR curates the full experience from venue coordination and luxury gifting to branded event design All infused with Italian flair and international standards.
Plan your bespoke experience at Relais Histó with our expert LUKAMOR team. www.lukamor.com or Book a WhatsApp consultation +49 170 5852 667
In a world where executives rarely have space to exhale, Relais Histó offers a radical luxury: silence
Hidden within the ancient stones of the masseria lies a sanctuary of calm a spa carved with reverence, flowing seamlessly between water, steam, and earth
This isn’t about pampering It’s about recalibration
Each treatment is rooted in Puglia’s natural rhythms: olive oil rituals, Mediterranean minerals, scents that ground you, and thermal spaces designed for clarity
Here, leaders are reminded that recovery is not a weakness it is wisdom.
At Relais Histó, the spa is not just a service it’s a ceremony A thoughtfully guided journey through ancient wellness traditions designed to awaken clarity and balance. Guests are invited to follow a curated flow: beginning with purifying steam, then slowing through the calm of warm water immersion, the invigorating pressure of hydro jets, the healing quiet of the salt cave, and the deep thermal release of hot pools.
Each space is meant to be savored with intention, not urgency. The experience ends in complete stillness: a therapeutic massage or a tea ritual in silence, where the body settles and the mind aligns
This isn’t indulgence. This is strategic renewal for those who lead, decide, and carry weight far beyond the office
Leadership doesn’t thrive in confinement
It expands in culture
A stay at Relais Histó unlocks more than rest it invites discovery.
Minutes away lies Taranto’s historic core, a city shaped by Greek, Roman, and maritime legacies
Guided visits to archaeological treasures, artisan studios, and quiet coastal corners provide more than education they ignite perspective
Just beyond, family-run vineyards welcome teams for sensorial experiences that awaken intuition, connection, and creativity
This is where vision is restored not in meetings, but in meaning.
Tucked within the heart of Puglia’s wine country, the Primitivo Wine Museum offers more than a tasting it offers a story.
Corporate guests are welcomed into a private, family-curated collection that traces the ancestral roots of one of Italy’s most noble grapes
In vaulted stone rooms filled with history, a guided wine tasting unfolds rich Primitivo pours paired with silky local cheeses and traditional meatballs, slow-cooked in ancient recipes.
Each sip and bite is designed to connect the palate to place
It’s the kind of experience that quietly bonds a team not through formal speeches, but through shared flavor, laughter, and heritage in a glass
THE LANTERN
CHEF FRANCESCO ANTONUCCI AT RELAIS HISTÓ
At Relais Histó, food is not a menu It’s a message!
Crafted from the soil and sea of southern Italy, each dish reconnects guests to place and purpose.
Corporate retreats often overlook the simple power of a shared table but here, fresh orecchiette, hand-pressed olive oil, wild herbs, and local wines bring colleagues together in authentic communion
No performance. No overproduction. Just deep, nourishing meals that celebrate origin and intention
It’s not about luxury in excess it’s about elegance in essence.
The Lantern, Mediterranean essence meets Apulian soul in a symphony of flavor
Each dish honors tradition while daring to reinterpret it vibrant, elegant, and plated with personality. From handpicked local ingredients to creative culinary twists, dining here isn’t just a meal It’s a memory in the making.
Discreetly embedded within the ancient architecture of Relais Histó, the meeting rooms offer more than just functionality they provide sanctuary. Whether hosting intimate leadership briefings, B2B negotiations, or strategic planning sessions, corporate guests are welcomed into light-filled, sound-insulated spaces designed to foster clarity and creativity
Total privacy is guaranteed with exclusive-use options, dedicated entrances, and seamless service that remains present but never intrusive In an atmosphere where history whispers and nature surrounds, ideas unfold with ease and focus Relais Histó is where deals are made, visions aligned, and minds reset far from distraction, close to inspiration.
KOKOPELLI BAR CATERING
“For Leaders in Motion, professional transport”
From arrival to departure, every movement matters and with our trusted transportation partners, discretion meets distinction. Whether transferring executives from the airport, escorting VIPs to vineyards, or organizing seamless routes between venues, each journey is managed by a team known for its punctuality, professionalism, and polished service Vehicles are impeccably maintained, drivers are multilingual and trained in elite hospitality, and schedules adapt to your pace not the other way around This is not just a transfer It’s a continuation of the luxury experience one that begins the moment the door opens.
Follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, featured destinations, and what’s coming next @verveandyou
Curated by Cecilé Founder of LUKAMOR For destination events, gifting, and design experiences: @cecilia in deutschland | www.lukamor.com
At LUKAMOR, we believe in experiences that do more than impress they transform. Now more than ever, companies are called to pause, reconnect, and reimagine how they lead. Through retreats, curated incentives, and immersive gatherings, we help brands shift from routine to resonance creating moments that build trust, strengthen purpose, and align teams with clarity and confidence.
We call it the ROAR Method — Reset, Restore, Align, Rise. A strategic flow that empowers leaders, nurtures culture, and drives performance from the inside out. Because when people feel seen, heard, and inspired, they don’t just perform they lead with conviction LUKAMOR is where that begins.
Available across Europe for curated corporate experiences that redefine success.
