Category Archives: Events

‘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

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 →

Posted in crime, Culture, Events, Lake, People | Tagged Adriano Celentano, Al pacino, Canepa, celebrity, film, Fiorio, Flora, Grand Hotel Cadenabbia, Gucci, Hollywood, Lady Gaga, Maurizio Gucci, Patrizia Reggiani, Villa Balbianello, Villa Balbiano, villa d'este | 1 Comment

R.I.P. Noir in Festival at Como

Posted on December 15, 2020 by comocompanion

Covid has wounded ‘Noir in Festival’ this year but at least there are the online interviews and we hope the festival will be back in Como next year. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Culture, Events, People | Tagged Bruno Morchio, crime, Cristina Cassar Scalia, Donato Carrisi, festival, Francesco Abate, Giancarlo de Cataldo, Lorenza Ghinelli, Maurizio de Giovanni, murder, Noir, Scerbanenco, Suburra, Tullio Avoledo | Leave a comment

Como’s Festival of Misultin and Lake Fish

Posted on October 21, 2020 by comocompanion

GastroLario’s Festival of Missoltini and Lake Fish runs until the end of October with 25 participating restaurants but lake fish are to be enjoyed all year round. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Food, Lake, Restaurants, Uncategorized | Tagged agone, cormorants, cuisine, festivals, fishing licence, lake fish, lavarello, Mezzegra, missoltini, Restaurants, specialities | 1 Comment

Anomalous Waves on Lake Como

Posted on August 27, 2020 by comocompanion

Anomalous Waves on Lake Como. Alpine lakes can experience tsunami-like anomalous waves. These and other extreme weather events have massive destructive power and demand that we treat our natural environment with respect. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, Lake, Uncategorized | Tagged Adda, Anomalous waves, Bellagio, Como, ecology, floods, Lake leman, landslides, Lenno, Piazza Cavour, Pliny the Younger, prealps, sediment, tsunami, Vajont, Val Pola, Valtellina, Villa Commedia | Leave a comment

Tourism 2020: Post Covid Como

Posted on May 26, 2020 by comocompanion

Tourism 2020: Post Covid Como. How will Covid 19 effect this year’s tourist season on Lake Como? When can we expect to enjoy the lake in the way residents or visitors might remember from former times? More questions than answers. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Gardens, Lake, Restaurants, Uncategorized | Tagged boat hire, covid, health, phase 2, tourism, travel | Leave a comment

Lake Como’s Star Crossed Lovers: 1) Osvaldo and Louisa

Posted on May 14, 2020 by comocompanion

Lake Como’s Star Crossed Lovers: 1) Osvaldo and Louisa – the story of two film stars from the fascist era. He was ‘addicted to morphine and she was addicted to him’ and this led to their tragic end on April 30th 1945. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Banda Koch, Cinecitta, cinema, cinevillaggio, Decima MAS, fascists, History, Junio Valerio Borghese, Lano D'Intelvi, Louisa Ferida, Marozin, Osvaldo Valenti, partisans, Pietro Koch, RSI, Smuggling, telefoni bianchi, Vega, Villa Fossati, Villa Triste | Leave a comment

Fables, Legends and Folklore: The Festa della Giubiana

Posted on January 29, 2020 by comocompanion

Fables, Legends and Folklore: The Festa della Giubiana. The last Thursday in January is when many Como and Brianza towns burn a witch on a massive bonfire and eat risotto with sausage. Find out where, when and why! Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Folklore, Uncategorized | Tagged Albavilla, Bonfires, Cantu, Canzo, Celebrations, Contadini, festivals, Folklore, Giubiana, January, legends, Peasants | Leave a comment

Como Remembers the Holocaust

Posted on January 23, 2020 by comocompanion

Como Remembers the Holocaust. For this Memorial Day I wish to recall the exploits of Giorgio Perlasca, born in Como on January 31st 1910, who has been attributed with saving the lives of over 5000 Jews living in Hungary. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Events, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged anti-semitism, Don Banfi, fascism, holocaust, Italian Jews, Perlasca, Politics, Racial Laws, Shoah | Leave a comment

Noir in Festival – Como 2019

Posted on December 4, 2019 by comocompanion

Noir in Festival – Como 2019, This Friday, 6th December, sees the start of the Como-based section of ‘Noir in Festival’ – an annual feast of crime film and fiction. We consider the historical reasons why ‘noir’ is popular in Italy. Continue reading →