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 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 →

Posted in Culture, Food, History, People, Uncategorized | Tagged agrarian science, Alessandro Volta, asbestos, Camnago, Candida Parenti, Canon Gattoni, Cosia, Istituto Nazionale, lupins, methane, Patriottica, Porta Nuova, potatoes, Teresa Ciceri, Valtellina | Leave a comment

Fables, Legends and Folklore: The Festa della Giubiana

Posted on January 29, 2020

Fables, Legends and Folklore: The Festa della Giubiana. The last Thursday in January is when many Como and Brianza towns burn a witch on a massive bonfire and eat risotto with sausage. Find out where, when and why! Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Folklore, Uncategorized | Tagged Albavilla, Bonfires, Cantu, Canzo, Celebrations, Contadini, festivals, Folklore, Giubiana, January, legends, Peasants | Leave a comment

Como Remembers the Holocaust

Posted on January 23, 2020

Como Remembers the Holocaust. For this Memorial Day I wish to recall the exploits of Giorgio Perlasca, born in Como on January 31st 1910, who has been attributed with saving the lives of over 5000 Jews living in Hungary. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Events, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged anti-semitism, Don Banfi, fascism, holocaust, Italian Jews, Perlasca, Politics, Racial Laws, Shoah | Leave a comment

Como’s Microplastic Pollution Challenge

Posted on January 10, 2020

In recent years there has been growing concern over the amount of plastic in seas and inland waters. There is now greater awareness of the presence and dangers of so-called micro-plastics. Whilst Lake Como has a good record for microbiological cleanliness, it must now tackle the issue of micro-plastics. Continue reading →

Posted in Lake, Politics, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged Adda, bacteria, environment, Goletta, Goletta dei Laghi, health, Legambiente, micro-plastics, microbiology, microplastics, nature, pollution, Rezzonico | Leave a comment

Lake Como and Climate Change

Posted on January 4, 2020

Lake Como and Climate Change. Man’s impact through climate change is becoming frighteningly dramatic. Even on Lake Como there is reason to be concerned that patterns of weather are having a negative impact on the lake’s ecosystem. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Lake, Politics, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged climate change, ecology, environment, fires, floods, Lake, landslide, missoltin, nature, paratie, Politics, streams, Sustainability, tourism, tourists, water level | Leave a comment

Poets’ Way: Como to Brunate

Posted on December 18, 2019

Within minutes on foot you can leave the centre of Como and be walking up through tranquil woods to Brunate – on a path that has now been renamed Sentiero Alda Merini in honour of her poetry Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Itineraries, Lake, People, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged Alda Merini, Brunate, Mary Shelley, nature, poetry, romanticism, sentiero, Ugo Foscolo, wildlife, Wordsworth | Leave a comment

Noir in Festival – Como 2019

Posted on December 4, 2019

Noir in Festival – Como 2019, This Friday, 6th December, sees the start of the Como-based section of ‘Noir in Festival’ – an annual feast of crime film and fiction. We consider the historical reasons why ‘noir’ is popular in Italy. Continue reading →