Author Archives: comocompanion

About comocompanion

I am an Englishman in Como, Northern Italy - definitely both a Euro and Italophile with an interest in modern history, walks in the hills and mountains, and food and wine. I favour 'slow' tourism alongside of 'slow' food.

Como’s Star-Crossed Lovers: 2 – ‘Gianna’ and ‘Neri’

Posted on June 16, 2020

Como’s Star-Crossed Lovers: 2 – ‘Gianna’ and ‘Neri’ On 6th January 1945 two lovers were arrested by fascists. 3 months later, they were murdered by their own colleagues on the orders of Communist leaders in Milan. An awful tragedy. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Canali, casa del fascio, Dongo, Fabio, Gamburota, Gianna, Gold, Gorrieri, Lezzeno, lovers, Lugano, Neri, OSS, Paolo Porta, partisans, PCI, spies, Tucci | Leave a comment

Como and Early Lombardy Baroque

Posted on June 4, 2020

Como and Early Lombardy Baroque. Morazzoni (Como’s Caravaggio) and the Morazzoniani. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, History, People, Uncategorized | Tagged baroque, Caravaggio, Fratelli Recchi, Frescoes, mannerists, Morazzone, Odescalchi, Perseus, putti, Rusca, sacro monte, Saint George, Sala Recchi, Tirano, Valtellina, Varese | Leave a comment

Tourism 2020: Post Covid Como

Posted on May 26, 2020

Tourism 2020: Post Covid Como. How will Covid 19 effect this year’s tourist season on Lake Como? When can we expect to enjoy the lake in the way residents or visitors might remember from former times? More questions than answers. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Gardens, Lake, Restaurants, Uncategorized | Tagged boat hire, covid, health, phase 2, tourism, travel | Leave a comment

Lake Como’s Star Crossed Lovers: 1) Osvaldo and Louisa

Posted on May 14, 2020

Lake Como’s Star Crossed Lovers: 1) Osvaldo and Louisa – the story of two film stars from the fascist era. He was ‘addicted to morphine and she was addicted to him’ and this led to their tragic end on April 30th 1945. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Banda Koch, Cinecitta, cinema, cinevillaggio, Decima MAS, fascists, History, Junio Valerio Borghese, Lano D'Intelvi, Louisa Ferida, Marozin, Osvaldo Valenti, partisans, Pietro Koch, RSI, Smuggling, telefoni bianchi, Vega, Villa Fossati, Villa Triste | Leave a comment

Como’s Lake Montorfano: Commandos, Contraband and the CIA

Posted on April 27, 2020

Como’s Lake Montorfano: Commandos, Contraband and the CIA. How a commando group trained on Lake Montorfano became the model after April 25th 1945 for post war covert anti-communist action across Western Europe. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Allen Dulles, Angleton, CIA, Decima MAS, Gladio, Liberation Day, Mario Rossi, Montorfano, nazifascism, OSS, P2, partisans, Piazza Fontana, Politics, Porlezza, Prince Julio Valerio Borghese, RSI, spallone, spies, Ugo Ricci, Vega | 1 Comment

Holidaying on Lake Como: In the Footsteps of Mary Shelley

Posted on April 9, 2020

Holidaying on Lake Como: In the Footsteps of Mary Shelley, author of ‘Frankenstein’ who in June 1840 set out with friends and her son to spend the summer on the lake. We trace her route. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Gardens, History, Itineraries, Lake, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Canova, Diligence, giuditta pasta, Rhine, travel, Villa Melzi, Villa Pliniana, Villa Serbelloni, Voiturier | 2 Comments

Como’s History of Plague and Pandemics

Posted on March 30, 2020

Como’s History of Plague and Pandemics. It will end and a fitting way to commemorate it would be to restore our lazzaretto – the ex-Chiesa di San Lazzaro as a monument to all local victims of plagues and pandemics throughout the ages. Continue reading →

Posted in History, Uncategorized, Wellness | Tagged 1630, Cholera, Coronavirus, Covid-19, health, I Promessi Sposi, Lazzaretto, Madonna del Bisbino, Manzoni, milan, pandemic, Plague, Rifugio Bugone, San Lazzaro, San Rocco, Vetta Bisbino, Villa Geno | 2 Comments

Lake Como: The 19th Century Super Highway

Posted on March 5, 2020

Lake Como: The 19th Century Super Highway. From even before Julius Caesar established Como and right until the mid 20th century, the lake formed a vital section of a transalpine communications network populated with stately sailboats. Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lake, Places of interest, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged boats, Breva, Camerlata, Comballo, concordia, Ferrovia Nord, Gondola Lariana, Lucia, Navigazione Laghi, Piazza Cavour, railway, sail, Sant'Agostino, Tivano | Leave a comment

Ossuccio to Lenno: Up and Down the Perlana Valley

Posted on February 25, 2020

Ossuccio to Lenno: Up and Down the Perlana Valley. This walk includes the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, the Sanctuary to the Blessed Virgin of Succour, the San Benedetto monastery at the head of the valley and the Abbey of Acquafredda. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, Itineraries, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged Acquafredda, Helliborus, Madonna del Soccorso, Ossuccio, sacro monte, San Benedetto, Val Perlana, Walks | Leave a comment

Como’s Famous Daughters: Teresa Ciceri, Agrarian Scientist

Posted on February 19, 2020

Como’s Famous Daughters: Teresa Ciceri. In anticipation of International Women’s Day – this esteemed colleague of Alessandro Volta was an agrarian scientist whose innovations improved many lives. She deserves greater recognition. Continue reading →