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 Heart Lies in the Bronx

Posted on April 25, 2022 by comocompanion

Como’s loss is New York’s gain – the heart of Piazza Cavour transplanted in 1903 to the Bronx Zoo, leaving a barren space in the middle of the city. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, History, People, Uncategorized | Tagged Bronx Zoo, Daniele Travi, fountains, marble, Sebastiano Mondolfo, sorsasso, Villa Volonte, William Rockefeller | Leave a comment

Moltrasio: The Power of Civic Pride

Posted on April 14, 2022 by comocompanion

Moltrasio, 10 kms from Como, is well worth a visit and the volunteers of the local Pro Moltrasio association have worked hard to ensure you get the best of what the town has to offer. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Food, History, Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Walks | Tagged bellini, FAI, Imperialino, Moltrasina, Moltrasio, Pizzallo, Pro Moltrasio, Quarries, stone, Villa Passalacqua, Villa Salterio, waterfalls, Winston Churchill | 3 Comments

Como’s City Walls

Posted on March 29, 2022 by comocompanion

Como has a lot of ‘history’ and the city’s walls provide visible evidence of the fact. They survive to this day due to the strategic location of the city and its desire to enforce customs duties on all goods passing through its gates. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Gardens, History, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Baradello, Castello della Torre Rotonda, Cittadella Viscontea, Como, Federico Barbarossa, Ghibellines, Guelphs, Hanging Gardens, History, Medieval Walls, Moltrasio stone, Porta Nuova, Porta Pretoria, Porta Torre, Roman remains, Roman Walls, Rusca, Teatro Sociale, Visconti, Vittani | 3 Comments

‘James Bond’ Returns to Lake Como

Posted on March 11, 2022 by comocompanion

Dick ‘James Bond’ Mallaby’s second secret mission to Lake Como has him posing as Capt. Richard Tucker with a proposal that would put him at the centre of a diplomatic maelstrom as victors and vanquished seek to shape a new European order following the collapse of Nazi Germany. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, Lake, People, Politics | Tagged Allen Dulles, Dick Mallaby, Don Giovanni Barbareschi, double agents, Fiamme Verdi, Jock McCaffery, Joseph Voetterl, KArl Wolff, OSS, Schuster, SOE, spies, Villa Carminati, Villa Locatelli | 1 Comment

Swimability Datafest for Lake Como

Posted on February 28, 2022 by comocompanion

For wild swimmers a warm sun glistening off clear fresh water is one of the most enticing of summer pleasures – but one that needs to be consumed with care following a minimum of preparation. For instance, how do you choose where best to take to the water? Our datafest is here to help you select your favoured destination. Continue reading →

Posted in Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged beaches, e-coli, Lido, pollution, swimming, tourism, water quality, wild swimming | 15 Comments

Como to Chiasso – Trying to Escape the Holocaust

Posted on February 10, 2022 by comocompanion

Como witnessed the Holocaust – due to its border with Switzerland, Como became a place of both treachery and humanity – offering the opportunity for salvation or the road to extermination Continue reading →

Posted in History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Antisemitism, Binario 21, Bisbino, CDEC, Guido Levi, holocaust, Holocaust victims, Joseph Votterl, Luigi del Monte, Luigina Ascoli, Race Laws, San Donnino, Shoah, Valle di Muggio, Villa Carminati, Villa Locatelli | Leave a comment

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 →