Category Archives: Places of interest

Swimming in Lake Como 2024

Posted on April 28, 2024 by comocompanion

Many ask if it is safe to swim in Lake Como. Every year we publish the official data collected over the previous season and this year (2024) we can confidently state that the lake’s beaches are cleaner than ever. Continue reading →

Posted in Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged bacteria, beaches, Como, e-coli, italy, Lake Como, lidos, pollution, swimmability, travel, wild swimming | Leave a comment

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

An Expatriate’s Life on Lake Como

Posted on October 25, 2023 by comocompanion

Paul Wright and his wife Nicola moved from England to Lake Como over thirty years ago. They have faced various challenges and tribulations over this time but have never regretted making that move. Paul has recorded the couple’s experiences in a trilogy of books available on Amazon. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Lake, People, Places of interest | Tagged Argegno, Art, bureaucracy, Como, expatriates, Lake Como, Moltrasio, murals, Paul Wright, proloco | 1 Comment

Como’s Hidden Gems – The Sala Recchi

Posted on October 16, 2023 by comocompanion

The Sala Recchi with its painted ceiling is undoubtedly one of the many hidden gems that are only occasionally revealed to the public. Thanks to FAI, there was the opportunity to visit it this autumn and to have the symbolism of the fresco explained. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Art, baroque, Como, FAI, Frescoes, Palazzo Lambertenghi, Recchi, roman gods, Sala Recchi, Trompe l'oeil | Leave a comment

Lake Como’s British Enclave, the Anglican Church and Landscape Art

Posted on August 11, 2023 by comocompanion

An exhibition of original works by some of the most prestigious contemporary English figurative artists will open on August 19th in Tremezzo. The works will later be sold to raise funds for Cadenabbia’s Anglican Church. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Events, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Alice Boggis-Rolfe, Anglican Church, Brentano, Cadenabbia, Griante, Heathcote Long, JMW Turner, Lake Como, mosaics, Murchison, Museo del Paesaggio, restoration, Saint George's Venice, sgraffito, Tremezzo, Villa Collina, Villa Mainona, Villa Norella | 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

Shopping In and Around Como

Posted on June 24, 2023 by comocompanion

Shopping – a)Meandering around the boutiques of Como’s ‘centro storico’
or b) A trip to the heart of Italian fashion design in Milan or c) A day out at Serravalle Designer Outlet. Take your pick. Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, People, Places of interest, Shopping, silk, Uncategorized | Tagged Ally, boutiques, Como, Designer Outlets, Foxtown, Gavi, Golden Triangle, LeDolciTerre, milan, Serravalle, Shopping, silk, ThinkSerravalle | Leave a comment

Fables, Legends and Folkore: A Walk to the Devil of Blevio and other Erratics

Posted on May 14, 2023 by comocompanion

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 | Leave a comment

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

Overnight on the Via dei Monti Lariani

Posted on December 1, 2022 by comocompanion

The Via dei Monti Lariani follows the border with Switzerland running along the crest of the mountains above the western shores of the lake. This walk is one stage along the 124km route with a one night stopover at the Rifugio Venini. Continue reading →