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Recent Posts
- Federico Frigerio: The Face of Como October 14, 2025
- Como’s Twin-Tailed Mermaids June 23, 2025
- Beyond the City Walls: Via Milano May 21, 2025
- Garibaldi, the Battle of San Fermo and his Como Bride April 23, 2025
- Lake Como and the Grand Tour March 21, 2025
Category Archives: History
Lake Como Boatyards: The Champions
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
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‘James Bond’ drops into Lake Como
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
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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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Escape to Switzerland via Monte Bisbino
Escape to Switzerland via Monte Bisbino – the story of Anna Sacerdoti and her family and how they avoided deportation – to honour this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day. Continue reading
Posted in crime, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized
Tagged Anna Sacerdoti, Bisbino, cernobbio, Chiasso, Christian Schiefer, holocaust, Leggi Razziali, Platform 21, Shoah, smugglers
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Como’s Pantero Pantera and other Admirable Admirals
Como’s Pantero Pantera and other Admirable Admirals. With one of Como’s historical naval commanders called Pantero Pantera and the other Pliny the Elder the attraction of an alliterative title to this article was irresistible. Continue reading
Posted in History, Lake, People, Uncategorized
Tagged blevio, Classis Comensis, Colico, Forts, galleazza, galleys, lapento, marine school, Miseno, naval warfare, pantero pantera, papal navy, pliny, roman navy, Vesuvius
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Como’s Lost ‘La Ruota’ Wheel
Como’s Lost Wheel – the ‘la Ruota’ studio of Ico and Luisa Parisi which conquered the world with its iconic furniture designs for companies like MIM and Cassina. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Culture, History, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized
Tagged alberto sartoris, astrattisti comaschi, Cassina, design, Egg Chair, furniture, Gio Ponti, Poltrona Uova, Terragni, Via Diaz
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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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Como’s Star-Crossed Lovers: 2 – ‘Gianna’ and ‘Neri’
Como’s Star-Crossed Lovers: 2 – ‘Gianna’ and ‘Neri’ On 6th January 1945 two lovers were arrested by fascists. 3 months later, they were murdered by their own colleagues on the orders of Communist leaders in Milan. An awful tragedy. Continue reading
The Como Companion 