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Recent Posts
- Escaping the Holocaust- Via Switzerland? January 30, 2026
- Como’s Sepulchral Art – The City of the Dead January 15, 2026
- Federico Frigerio: The Face of Como October 14, 2025
- Como’s Twin-Tailed Mermaids June 23, 2025
- Beyond the City Walls: Via Milano May 21, 2025
Author Archives: comocompanion
Swimability 2019: Lake Como’s Clean Water
Swimability 2019: Lake Como’s Clean Water. Looking down into the clear waters of the lake on a warm summer’s day invokes the desire to jump in and swim! But can we be sure the water is safe for swimming? Continue reading
Posted in Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized
Tagged bacteria, bathing, beach, beaches, brienno, Careno, Como, e-coli, effluent, Enterococci, health, Lake, Lake Como, Moltrasio, pollution, swimming, Tremezzo, water quality, wild swimming
2 Comments
Villa Platamone – An ‘Aristocratic’ Bed and Breakfast
Villa Platamone – An ‘Aristocratic’ Bed and Breakfast. The holiday lodge built in the 1820s for Michele Platamone in Como has now been restored to former glory and opened today for the first time to paying guests. Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Culture, Gardens, History, Uncategorized
Tagged B&B, Bed and breakfast, Clerichetti, Como, Lugano, luxury, Villa, Villa Bignami, Villa Ciani, Villa Platamone
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Torno’s Santo Chiodo & Conflicts with Como
Torno’s Santo Chiodo & Conflict with Como: This Sunday, May 5th sees the annual blessing and evening procession through the town of its ‘Santo Chiodo’ or sacred nail – no less than one of the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus. Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Events, Folklore, History, Places of interest, Uncategorized
Tagged Como, crucifixion, Folklore, isola comacina, lake battles, Lamberto Rusca, Rusca, santo chiodo, Tornaschi, Torno, wool
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A Castle in Distress: Tiina to the Rescue
Carimate Castle has fallen upon hard times. It has been unoccupied and unmaintained since 2014. Now, long-time Carimate resident Tiina Hiekkaranta, also known locally as the (Finnish) Countess of Carimate, and her husband Timo want to save it Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Culture, History, Music, Places of interest, Uncategorized
Tagged auction, Carimate, Castello, Castle, Hotels, Il Torchio, Lucio Dalla, Stone Castle Studios, Tony Casetta, Visconti
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Sarah Aller: Como’s New York Artist In Residence
Sarah Aller: Como’s New York Artist In Residence – an appreciation of her work ‘At their best, Sarah’s stories perform a function not dissimilar to the way our brains perform a subconscious ordering of experience through dreams.’ Continue reading
Posted in Art, Culture, Events, People, Uncategorized
Tagged AAF, Art, Como, contemporary, ex-pat, Eye Contemporary Art, Genoa, image transfer, Sarah Aller, stencil, Tablinum
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Torno Circuit: Piazzaga and Monte Piatto
Torno Circuit – if I was to plan a walking holiday around Lake Como, Torno would be one of my favoured bases, from where this walk takes you above the Villa Pliniana to Piazzaga and Montepiatto and on to Brunate or Molina. Continue reading
Posted in Folklore, Itineraries, Lake, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Walks
Tagged Avelli, Brunate, erratics, Montepiatto, mule paths, Piazzaga, pizzocheri, Torno
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Como’s Four Seasons – 3: Spring, New Start, New Apps and New Plans
Como’s Four Seasons – 3: Spring. As new natural life brings a chromatic change to the city’s surrounding hills, a new commercial life begins with the start of the tourist season. Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Events, Gardens, Lake, silk, Uncategorized
Tagged Spring, tourism, tourist information, villa erba
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The Como Group of Artists – ‘Astrattisti Comaschi’
The Como Group of Artists – ‘Astrattisti Comaschi’. How come a group of Como-based artists established themselves at the forefront of the abstract art movement in Italy and Europe in the 1930s? Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, History, People, silk, Uncategorized
Tagged abstract art, aldo galli, alvaro molteni, Art, astrattisti comaschi, carla badiali, galleria il milione, manlio rho, mario radice, Museo della Seta, ratti, silk, textile design
3 Comments
Como’s Famous Daughters: Giuditta Pasta
Como’s Famous Daughters: Giuditta Pasta – for International Women’s Day, a reminder of Como’s Diva with an international reputation! Continue reading
Posted in Art, Culture, History, Lake, Music, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized
Tagged bellini, blevio, Cinque Giornate, Como, donizetti, famous women, giuditta pasta, Moltrasio, norma, Opera, teatro alla scala, Teatro Sociale
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Climbing Monte Bisbino – Como’s Local Mountain
Climbing Monte Bisbino – Como’s Local Mountain with a rifugio, sanctuary and First World War defences on its summit. Continue reading
Posted in Itineraries, Places of interest, Uncategorized, Walks
Tagged Alpetto Gombetta, Bisbino, bugone, Capanna Falco, Fonte Anzone, Rifugio, Walks
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The Como Companion 