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.

Lake Como Boatyards: Luxury Boats

Posted on January 13, 2022 by comocompanion

Lake Como’s boatyards have been building luxury boats for the last 200 years and will continue to do so for years to come. Even if we are never likely to own one, we can all experience the joy of a journey in a vintage Venetian-style water taxi. Continue reading →

Posted in industry, Lake, Transport | Tagged Abbate, Cantiere, Colombo, Cranchi, Gondola, Inglesina, Lake Como, Riva, Taroni, tourism, water taxi | Leave a comment

Lake Como Boatyards: The Champions

Posted on November 26, 2021 by comocompanion

Lake Como has a long tradition of boat building and through the 20th century achieved world class renown for producing sailing yachts and powerboats, thus earning a reputation for quality that lasts to this day. Continue reading →

Posted in History, industry, Lake, People, Uncategorized | Tagged 3 point hydroplanes, Abbate, Achille Castoldi, Alfa Romeo, Balbianello, boats, Cantiere, Ezio Selva, Ferrari, Folli, Guido Monzino, idrovolante, Lariovela, Laura, Lillia, mario verga, Moschettiere, Mostes, powerboats, regatta, Star Class, Taroni, Timossi, Tullio, yachts | Leave a comment

Dolinski ‘Sui Muri’ of Como’s Villa del Grumello

Posted on October 27, 2021 by comocompanion

Dolinski ‘Sui Muri’ of Como’s Villa del Grumello. A figurative art that appears abstract, a personal art that is universally accessible. Her subject matter has moved from the sky out of her window to walls and now on to the mountains above Como, Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Art, Borgovico 33, Cornell, Culture, Debra Dolinski, Dolinski, Exhibitions, local artists, migrants, Movimento 22, Ossuccio | Leave a comment

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 →