Category Archives: Lake

Moltrasio: The Power of Civic Pride

Posted on April 14, 2022 by comocompanion

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 →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Food, History, Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Walks | Tagged bellini, FAI, Imperialino, Moltrasina, Moltrasio, Pizzallo, Pro Moltrasio, Quarries, stone, Villa Passalacqua, Villa Salterio, waterfalls, Winston Churchill | 3 Comments

‘James Bond’ Returns to Lake Como

Posted on March 11, 2022 by comocompanion

Dick ‘James Bond’ Mallaby’s second secret mission to Lake Como has him posing as Capt. Richard Tucker with a proposal that would put him at the centre of a diplomatic maelstrom as victors and vanquished seek to shape a new European order following the collapse of Nazi Germany. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, Lake, People, Politics | Tagged Allen Dulles, Dick Mallaby, Don Giovanni Barbareschi, double agents, Fiamme Verdi, Jock McCaffery, Joseph Voetterl, KArl Wolff, OSS, Schuster, SOE, spies, Villa Carminati, Villa Locatelli | Leave a comment

Swimability Datafest for Lake Como

Posted on February 28, 2022 by comocompanion

For wild swimmers a warm sun glistening off clear fresh water is one of the most enticing of summer pleasures – but one that needs to be consumed with care following a minimum of preparation. For instance, how do you choose where best to take to the water? Our datafest is here to help you select your favoured destination. Continue reading →

Posted in Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged beaches, e-coli, Lido, pollution, swimming, tourism, water quality, wild swimming | 15 Comments

Lake Como Boatyards: Luxury Boats

Posted on January 13, 2022 by comocompanion

Lake Como’s boatyards have been building luxury boats for the last 200 years and will continue to do so for years to come. Even if we are never likely to own one, we can all experience the joy of a journey in a vintage Venetian-style water taxi. Continue reading →

Posted in industry, Lake, Transport | Tagged Abbate, Cantiere, Colombo, Cranchi, Gondola, Inglesina, Lake Como, Riva, Taroni, tourism, water taxi | Leave a comment

Lake Como Boatyards: The Champions

Posted on November 26, 2021 by comocompanion

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 | Leave a comment

Walking Lake Como’s Wayfarer Way

Posted on September 9, 2021 by comocompanion

The Via del Viandante (Wayfarer’s Way) is a long distance trail that runs up the eastern leg of Lake Como from Abbadia Lariana to Colico. I undertook a 3 day excursion along its length and was dazzled by the variety and beauty of the area. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged Abbadia, agriturismo, Bellano, Bologna, Corenno, Dervio, excursions, Lake Como, Le Grigne, lecco, Mandello, Somana, trekking, viandante, Walks | 2 Comments

Como’s Changing Lakefront

Posted on August 5, 2021 by comocompanion

Como is justifiably famous for the beauty of its natural surroundings and of its ancient walled city, for the inventiveness and quality of its silk production and for the creativity and skills of its artists and artisans throughout the centuries. The list of positives does not end there but it also ranks as the city with the longest, worst managed and corrupted civil engineering project throughout Northern Italy – but an end to the flood defence project is finally in sight. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Lake, People, Politics | Tagged Amici di Como, ANAC, Como, flood defences, floods, Lake Como, lakefront, Mario Lucini, paratie, Pietro Gilardoni, Roberto Maroni, SACAIM | Leave a comment

‘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

The Romantic Era of Smuggling: A Game of Cat and Mouse on Lake Como

Posted on April 15, 2021 by comocompanion

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 | 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 →