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 Four Seasons – 3: Spring, New Start, New Apps and New Plans

Posted on March 28, 2019 by comocompanion

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 | Leave a comment

The Como Group of Artists – ‘Astrattisti Comaschi’

Posted on March 21, 2019 by comocompanion

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

Posted on March 9, 2019 by comocompanion

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 | 4 Comments

Climbing Monte Bisbino – Como’s Local Mountain

Posted on March 3, 2019 by comocompanion

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 | Leave a comment

Como’s Celtic Connection

Posted on February 23, 2019 by comocompanion

‘Oro di Scozia’ is both a shop and a cultural association aimed at spreading ‘the tastes and flavours of [Scotland] with its rich historical background’ in the words of one of its founders. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Food, People, Uncategorized | Tagged bagpipes, Barga, beltane, celtic, Como, Glasgow, Music, scotland, scottish dancing | 1 Comment

Testimonies and Remembrance: Como Recalls the Shoah

Posted on February 6, 2019 by comocompanion

Testimonies and Remembrance: Como Recalls the Shoah. Ines Figini and Alessandro Lukacs at Villa Olmo on Holocaust Memorial Day Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged cernobbio, Enrico Caronti, Giorgio Perlasca, holocaust, Ines Figini, Jehovah Witnesses, Memorial Day, Pizzo, Schiavi di Hitler, Shoah, Villa Olmo | Leave a comment

Brienno’s Botanic Path – Sentiero Botanico

Posted on January 29, 2019 by comocompanion

Brienno’s Botanic Path – Sentiero Botanico. A stiff uphill climb along the old migration path to summer pastures and on to Posa and Schignano for carnival or he Sentiero delle Espressioni Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore, Itineraries, Lake, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged brienno, nature, sentiero botanico | Leave a comment

Como’s Four Seasons: 2 – Feasting and Hibernation

Posted on January 9, 2019 by comocompanion

Como’s Four Seasons: 2 – Feasting and Hibernation – the two parts to Como’s winter with the gradual stirrings of life as the natural cycle renews towards Spring. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Folklore, Uncategorized | Tagged Barni, Cantu, Canzo, Citta dei Balocchi, Folklore, Giubiana, Schignano, Varese | Leave a comment

Christmas Como: Citta dei Balocchi

Posted on December 12, 2018 by comocompanion

Over recent years Como has sought to exceed itself in attracting visitors to its streets over Christmas defining itself as the ‘Citta dei Balocchi’ – a phrase that might roughly be translated as the city of fun and fantasy. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Folklore, Uncategorized | Tagged Christmas, Citta dei Balocchi, Como, Culture, illuminations, tourism | Leave a comment

Noir 2018: Moral Ambiguity and Death

Posted on December 6, 2018 by comocompanion

Italian society seems ready made for the ‘noir’ genre and Como is the ideal location for appreciating it since its stunning natural location will calm the spirits after the moral turbulence provoked by this annual ‘Noir in Festival’. Continue reading →