Category Archives: Architecture

Water Taxis and Lake Como’s Vaporina

A ride in a water taxi on Lake Como,  either taken out of necessity or convenience, is a pleasure in itself. Water taxis go far beyond their evident practicality by offering comfort and inimitable style. The style of these boats has long been dominated by Venetian design, Lake Como is in the process of re-establishing its own brand of boat  – the Vaporina designed specifically for our waters. Continue reading

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Moltrasio: The Power of Civic Pride

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

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Como’s City Walls

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

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Como: The Potential for Cultural Tourism

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

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Ossuccio to Lenno: Up and Down the Perlana Valley

Ossuccio to Lenno: Up and Down the Perlana Valley. This walk includes the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, the Sanctuary to the Blessed Virgin of Succour, the San Benedetto monastery at the head of the valley and the Abbey of Acquafredda. Continue reading

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Campo Urbano – Public Art in Como 1969

Campo Urbano – Public Art in Como 1969. How the generation of Como artists following on from the Astrattisti Comaschi continued to place Como in the vanguard of artistic developments. Continue reading

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Como’s Secret Gardens

Como’s Secret Gardens. On 21st and 22nd September, those in Como can, for the price of €8, visit a whole series of secret gardens and courtyards within the old city walls. Continue reading

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Stucco and Scagliola – Two of Como’s Baroque Specialities

Back at the start of the 17th Century, a new technique was developed in Northern Italy to create fake marble marquetry. This was called scagliola. It was a complimentary extension of the skills of the stucco masters – and the artists and craftsmen from the Province of Como’s Val D’Intelvi excelled in its execution, working on palaces and churches across Italy and Mid or eastern Catholic Europe. Continue reading

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Tourism on Lake Como – Then and Now

Tourism on Lake Como – Then and Now. A look at current levels of tourism and its growth on Lake Como from Pliny, Stendhal to the Clooneys. Continue reading

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Como’s Pope and other Odescalchi

Como’s Pope and other Odescalchi. Florence has the Medici, Mantua the Gonzagas,  Milan has the Visconti who merged through marriage with the Sforzas.   Como for its part has the Odescalchi, Raimondi, Lambertenghi etc etc. Continue reading

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