Category Archives: History

Como and Henry’s ‘Turbulent Priest’

Posted on February 28, 2024 by comocompanion

Thomas a Becket was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by King Henry II of England in 1162 and then executed on his orders in 1170. His martyrdom and beatification gave birth to a cult celebrated across Europe including here in Como. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, History, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Basilica, england, Henry II, History, Monreale, Palermo, relics, reliquary, San Giorgio, Sicily, Thomas Becket, travel | Leave a comment

Como to Auschwitz on Convoy 8

Posted on January 31, 2024 by comocompanion

Convoy 8 to Auschwitz. The story of a diverse group all arrested in Como over December 1943 but from different backgrounds forced on the same journey and to share the same fate due to their shared ethnicity. The enormity of where racism can lead us must surely never be forgotten. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, History, Uncategorized | Tagged Auschwitz, Brunate, Convoy, Fossoli, History, holocaust, jews, Memorial Day, Olgiate, Questura, RSI, Shoah, SS, world-war-ii | 6 Comments

Lake Como in Fiction

Posted on January 21, 2024 by comocompanion

Some suggested holiday reading with Lake Como used as the backdrop for holiday romance, crime and historical drama – how is our lake depicted? Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Culture, History, Lake, Uncategorized | Tagged book-review, book-reviews, books, Como, fiction, holiday reading, Lake Como, landscape, novels, writing | 5 Comments

Wartime Occupation of Cernobbio

Posted on December 1, 2023 by comocompanion

This article reports the results of recent research undertaken at Cernobbio’s Archivio Storico into the extent of the Nazi occupation of Cernobbio from September 1943 until the end of the war in April 1945. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, History | Tagged Carminati, Celio, Commisariato Alloggi, Egeli, Joseph Voetterl, Joseph Votterl, Porta, Prefect, requistion, Scassellati, sequester, villa d'este, villa erba, Von Horstig | 2 Comments

Como Municipality’s Heraldic Confusion

Posted on July 25, 2023 by comocompanion

Como’s city council has sought to clarify a case of heraldic confusion. The new mayor has decided to clarify what must have been the most insignificant of the many issues facing the new administration, – its coat of arms. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged banner, Barbarossa, coat of arms, Como, Ghibellines, gonfalone, Guelphs, History, logo, mayor, Palazzo Cernezzi, sindaco, stemma | Leave a comment

Isola Comacina – A Serene Location with a Tragic Past

Posted on July 13, 2023 by comocompanion

Isola Comacina is the only island on Lake Como. Its past glory and tragic destiny results from its strategic position close to the narrow channel in the lake between the promontory of Villa del Balbianello and Lezzeno on the eastern shore. It was to pay a heavy price for its valued location. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Events, History, Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest | Tagged Antiquarium, Barbarossa, Campo, Colonno, History, isola comacina, milan, naval battle, Ossuccio, Pietro Lingeri, Sagra, Sala | 4 Comments

Lake Como’s Condottiere – The Marquis of Musso

Posted on April 28, 2023 by comocompanion

Gian Giacomo De Medici, 1495 to 1555, developed from paid assassin in the court of the Milanese Sforzas to become ruler of Lake Como entitled Marquis of Musso and Count of Lecco, and one of the most successful condottieri in the 16th century. Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lake, People, Places of interest | Tagged Condottieri, Dongo, Francesco Sforza, Giardino del Merlo, Giovanni Il Matto, Grisons, History, Il Medeghino, Lake Como, Late Lombardy Renaissance, Melegnano, Musso, Naval battles, Quinquereme, Tre Pievi | Leave a comment

Como’s Famous Women: The wartime exploits of Ginevra Bedetti Masciadri

Posted on March 14, 2023 by comocompanion

This article on Ginevra Bedetti Masciadri in part commemorates International Women’s Day (March 8th), but also is intended to throw light on someone who needs to be counted within the pantheon of Como’s famous women. Continue reading →

Posted in History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Casa Bianca, Como, Ginevra Bedetti Masciadri, History, Maslianico, partisans, Rosemberg, staffetta, Villa Gallia, Villa Rosasco | Leave a comment

Love, War and Death on Lake Como – The Tragic End of Gina Ruberti

Posted on January 26, 2023 by comocompanion

It is most unlikely that current guests at Blevio’s Mandarin Oriental are reminded of the tragedy that took place on the night of 3rd May 1946 when a famous resident of the Villa Roccabruna drowned in the lake while attempting to cross back home from Moltrasio. That person was Gina Ruberti, better known as Gina Mussolini – the dictator’s daughter-in-law. Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lake, People | Tagged blevio, Bruno Mussolini, Como, Gina Ruberti, History, Lake Como, Mandarin Oriental, Mussolini, Villa Roccabruna | Leave a comment

The Queen of England’s Como Court

Posted on October 6, 2022 by comocompanion

For a brief period a royal wife and future Queen of Britain held court in Cernobbio – the tragic tale of Queen Caroline of Brunswick and the luxury hotel, Villa D’Este Continue reading →