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.

True Crime in Como – the Molteni Murder

Posted on September 15, 2021 by comocompanion

The ‘Delitto Molteni’ is a local true crime story which contains some elements of tragedy within it. A respected architect is accidentally murdered in a plot hatched by his ex-wife and her lover. He dies and they end up with long terms in prison with a further 10 people convicted for their involvement. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Uncategorized | Tagged Alberto Brivio, Cantu, Como, Court of Assizes, Daniela Rho, Molteni, murder, true crime | Leave a comment

Walking Lake Como’s Wayfarer Way

Posted on September 9, 2021 by comocompanion

The Via del Viandante (Wayfarer’s Way) is a long distance trail that runs up the eastern leg of Lake Como from Abbadia Lariana to Colico. I undertook a 3 day excursion along its length and was dazzled by the variety and beauty of the area. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged Abbadia, agriturismo, Bellano, Bologna, Corenno, Dervio, excursions, Lake Como, Le Grigne, lecco, Mandello, Somana, trekking, viandante, Walks | 2 Comments

Como’s Changing Lakefront

Posted on August 5, 2021 by comocompanion

Como is justifiably famous for the beauty of its natural surroundings and of its ancient walled city, for the inventiveness and quality of its silk production and for the creativity and skills of its artists and artisans throughout the centuries. The list of positives does not end there but it also ranks as the city with the longest, worst managed and corrupted civil engineering project throughout Northern Italy – but an end to the flood defence project is finally in sight. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Lake, People, Politics | Tagged Amici di Como, ANAC, Como, flood defences, floods, Lake Como, lakefront, Mario Lucini, paratie, Pietro Gilardoni, Roberto Maroni, SACAIM | Leave a comment

Como: The Potential for Cultural Tourism

Posted on June 23, 2021 by comocompanion

Como and Cultural Tourism – a sustainable form of tourism with the potential of increasing the length of visitor stays – for the benefit of tourists and residents alike. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Itineraries, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Como, cultural tourism, Culture, iubilantes, monumenti aperti, poets way, tourism, Villa Olmo | Leave a comment

‘James Bond’ drops into Lake Como

Posted on June 8, 2021 by comocompanion

A real ‘James Bond’ secret agent drops into Lake Como, is immediately arrested but eventually acts as the facilitator of the Italian Armistice in September 1943 – a story truly stranger than fiction Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, Lake, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Badoglio, Dick Mallaby, Eisenhower, Faggeto Lario, Lake Como, partisans, Pognana, San Donnino, secret agents, SOE, spies, Wolff | Leave a comment

The Romantic Era of Smuggling: A Game of Cat and Mouse on Lake Como

Posted on April 15, 2021 by comocompanion

The Romantic Era of Smuggling: A Game of Cat and Mouse on Lake Como. Smuggling was common along the entire length of Italy’s northern border but particularly prevalent around the lakes so much as to become a key element in local folklore. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Culture, Folklore, History, Itineraries, Lake, People, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged Burlanda, Cigarettes, Cinto, coffee, Colonno, contraband, contrabbandieri, Davide Van De Sfroos, Domenica del Corriere, Erbonne, finanzieri, guardia di finanza, Il Cimino, Lanzo, Lezzeno, Ment, smugglers, Smuggling, spalloni, Switzerland, val d'intelvi | Leave a comment

Hollywood, Gucci and Lake Como

Posted on March 16, 2021 by comocompanion

Hollywood, Gucci and Lake Como. On 17th March Hollywood will descend on Lake Como for a day of filming at the Villa Balbiano. The film is about the Gucci family and the murder of Maurizio Gucci ordered by his estranged wife, Patrizia Reggiani. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Culture, Events, Lake, People | Tagged Adriano Celentano, Al pacino, Canepa, celebrity, film, Fiorio, Flora, Grand Hotel Cadenabbia, Gucci, Hollywood, Lady Gaga, Maurizio Gucci, Patrizia Reggiani, Villa Balbianello, Villa Balbiano, villa d'este | Leave a comment

Two Local Poets for International Women’s Day

Posted on March 10, 2021 by comocompanion

Two Local Poets for International Women’s Day. Both were brought up in Milan but with links to Lake Como. Both displayed poetic talent at an early age. Both suffered from mental fragility. Both are admirable women – Antonia Pozzi & Alda Merini. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, People, Uncategorized | Tagged Alda Merini, Antonia Pozzi, Antonio Banfi, Brunate, crepuscolarismo, modernism, Onorina Dino, Pasturo, poetry, Poetry Way, poets, rationalism, valsassina | Leave a comment

Carate Urio to Moltrasio via Rifugio Bugone

Posted on February 20, 2021 by comocompanion

Carate Urio to Moltrasio via Rifugio Bugone. This walk, from lakeside to the crest of the mountains on the Via dei Monti Lariani and then down, is rewarding but not for the fainthearted. It takes you by 2 refuges where good mountain food is available. Continue reading →

Posted in Itineraries, Lake, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged bugone, Carate, La Culman, Moltrasio, Monte di Urio, Monte generoso, mountain walks, Murelli, Rifugio, Santa Marta, Tosnacco, Urio, Via Verde | 2 Comments

Cleaning Up Como’s Tax Office

Posted on February 16, 2021 by comocompanion

Cleaning Up Como’s Tax Office. The Director of the Province of Como’s tax office (the Agenzia delle Entrate) has been convicted of taking bribes in exchange for heavily discounting local businessmen’s tax bills at a cost of €2 million in lost revenue. Continue reading →