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Recent Posts
- Fables, Legends and Folkore: A Walk to the Devil of Blevio and other Erratics May 14, 2023
- Lake Como’s Condottiere – The Marquis of Musso April 28, 2023
- Como’s Manifesto for Wellbeing April 10, 2023
- Como’s Famous Women: The wartime exploits of Ginevra Bedetti Masciadri March 14, 2023
- Lake Como’s Wild Pack of Wolves February 14, 2023
Category Archives: Folklore
Fables, Legends and Folkore: A Walk to the Devil of Blevio and other Erratics
The area around Blevio and Torno is particularly rich in glacial erratics and three of the larger and better known examples can be visited on or nearby the mountain path from Brunate to Monte Piatto, above Blevio and Torno. Continue reading
Posted in Folklore, Itineraries, Places of interest, Walks
Tagged blevio, erratici, erratics, Folklore, Monte Piatto, Pietra Nairola, Pietra Pendula, sasso del lupo, Torno, Trovanti
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The Romantic Era of Smuggling: A Game of Cat and Mouse on Lake Como
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
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Lake Como’s Bears, Wolves … and Werewolves
Lake Como’s Bears, Wolves … and Werewolves. Just by travelling 10 kms inland from the lake, you enter areas remote enough to support the repopulation of wolves and bears – and the continued propagation of ancient myth! Continue reading
Posted in Folklore, Places of interest, Uncategorized, Walks
Tagged bears, cavargna, deer, ecology, garzeno, sasso del lupo, valle albano, valsassina, viandante, werewolves, wild boar, wolves
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Como’s Train Station, Witches and the Inquisition
Como’s Train Station, Witches and the Inquisition. Few travellers arriving at Como’s San Giovanni Station know they are on top of the remains of a monastery where innocent victims faced torture and being burnt at the stake. Continue reading
Posted in Art, crime, Culture, Folklore, History, Uncategorized
Tagged Art, churches, Folklore, Giubiana, Grissons, Inquisition, Odescalchi, religion, San Giovanni, Valtellina, witchcraft, witches
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Fables, Legends and Folklore: The Festa della Giubiana
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
Torno’s Santo Chiodo & Conflicts with Como
Torno’s Santo Chiodo & Conflict with Como: This Sunday, May 5th sees the annual blessing and evening procession through the town of its ‘Santo Chiodo’ or sacred nail – no less than one of the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus. Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Events, Folklore, History, Places of interest, Uncategorized
Tagged Como, crucifixion, Folklore, isola comacina, lake battles, Lamberto Rusca, Rusca, santo chiodo, Tornaschi, Torno, wool
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Torno Circuit: Piazzaga and Monte Piatto
Torno Circuit – if I was to plan a walking holiday around Lake Como, Torno would be one of my favoured bases, from where this walk takes you above the Villa Pliniana to Piazzaga and Montepiatto and on to Brunate or Molina. Continue reading
Posted in Folklore, Itineraries, Lake, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Walks
Tagged Avelli, Brunate, erratics, Montepiatto, mule paths, Piazzaga, pizzocheri, Torno
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Brienno’s Botanic Path – Sentiero Botanico
Brienno’s Botanic Path – Sentiero Botanico. A stiff uphill climb along the old migration path to summer pastures and on to Posa and Schignano for carnival or he Sentiero delle Espressioni Continue reading
Posted in Folklore, Itineraries, Lake, Uncategorized, Walks
Tagged brienno, nature, sentiero botanico
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The Como Companion 