Author Archives: comocompanion

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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.

Myth and Reality: Lake Monsters and Political Scandal

Posted on August 13, 2017 by comocompanion

A piece of real ‘fake news’ turned up the other day in the local newspapers – a sighting of a prehistoric monster in the grounds of the long defunct textile factory, Ticosa, on the edge of Como’s historical centre. Regular … Continue reading →

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Como Silk – Memoirs of a Textile Designer

Posted on July 28, 2017 by comocompanion

Como has been a tourist destination from the days of the Grand Tour but it maintains equal significance as a centre for silk production. Current visitors to Como might think that the silk industry is a thing of the past … Continue reading →

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Mr. Savethewall – Como’s Spray-Can Artistic Campaigner

Posted on July 24, 2017 by comocompanion

If walking the streets of Como for any time, you will become aware of a local artist known as Mr. Savethewall. His two shopfronts, the immediate appeal of some of his iconic images such as Mr. Frogman  and his intriguing … Continue reading →

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Flying High Over Como

Posted on July 5, 2017 by comocompanion

Lake Como is rightly renowned for its beauty but it is also well known internationally (albeit within a specialised community) for a service operating on the lake itself. For it hosts the only seaplane pilot training school in Europe at … Continue reading →

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Canottieri Lario – Making a Media Storm

Posted on June 24, 2017 by comocompanion

If rowing was as popular as football then Como would be at the top of Seria A! Positioned third in national rankings last year, Como’s Canottieri Lario is on a roll making its own media storm. But let’s step back … Continue reading →

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A Dummy’s Guide to Voting in Como’s Local Election

Posted on June 5, 2017 by comocompanion

The first round of voting in Como’s local administrative elections is on Sunday June 11th. The vote in Como and in a number of other provincial councils is for the mayor and for the team of councillors listed under the … Continue reading →

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Elegance at Villa D’Este

Posted on May 26, 2017 by comocompanion

Today is the start of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. This is an annual gathering of vintage cars and motorbikes along with their owners and admirers. In most previous years this event has mainly taken place within the grounds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Gardens, History, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Liberating the Lakefront – Como Recovers Its Greatest Asset

Posted on May 18, 2017 by comocompanion

For residents and tourists alike, Como’s greatest asset must be its magnificent lakefront with its views north to Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Torno and to the summit of Mount Bisbino – so why has access to a large tract of it been … Continue reading →

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URGENT: Expat Como residents need to register to vote by May 2nd

Posted on April 27, 2017 by comocompanion

Citizens of other EU countries with residency in Italy can vote in municipal elections – the ‘elezioni amministrative’ – but they will need to register to vote. On June 11th this year 1,021 local councils across Italy will be electing … Continue reading →

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From Liberation Day to May Day

Posted on April 26, 2017 by comocompanion

April 25th was Liberation Day in Italy – a public holiday to honour the signing of the Armistice in Rome 72 years ago. This brought an end to the Nazifascist regime in Northern Italy. It is a day of commemoration … Continue reading →

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