Category Archives: Places of interest

Holidaying on Lake Como: In the Footsteps of Mary Shelley

Posted on April 9, 2020 by comocompanion

Holidaying on Lake Como: In the Footsteps of Mary Shelley, author of ‘Frankenstein’ who in June 1840 set out with friends and her son to spend the summer on the lake. We trace her route. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Gardens, History, Itineraries, Lake, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Canova, Diligence, giuditta pasta, Rhine, travel, Villa Melzi, Villa Pliniana, Villa Serbelloni, Voiturier | 2 Comments

Lake Como: The 19th Century Super Highway

Posted on March 5, 2020 by comocompanion

Lake Como: The 19th Century Super Highway. From even before Julius Caesar established Como and right until the mid 20th century, the lake formed a vital section of a transalpine communications network populated with stately sailboats. Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lake, Places of interest, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged boats, Breva, Camerlata, Comballo, concordia, Ferrovia Nord, Gondola Lariana, Lucia, Navigazione Laghi, Piazza Cavour, railway, sail, Sant'Agostino, Tivano | Leave a comment

Como and Cernobbio Say Goodbye to Nonna Pupa

Posted on November 27, 2019 by comocompanion

Cernobbio’s Giardino della Valle (Valley Garden) is a singularly beautiful oasis of calm, straddling a mountain stream as it descends to the lake. It exists thanks entirely to the vision and tenacity of Nonna Pupa who died aged 95 on Wednesday November 20th. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Gardens, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Antica Strada Regina, bureaucracy, cernobbio, Culture, ecology, environment, gardening, Il Giardino della Valle, Music, nature, Nonna Pupa, public spirit, volunteering | 1 Comment

Strada Regia: From Nesso to Lezzeno

Posted on October 25, 2019 by comocompanion

Strada Regia: From Nesso to Lezzeno. This walk represents the final stage in the Strada Regia’s route from Como to Bellagio and can be divided into four sections according to different terrains. Continue reading →

Posted in Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized, Walks | Tagged chestnuts, La Morena, Lezzeno, nature, Nesso, Orrido, Ponte Civera, Strada Regia, terracing, Walks, woods | 1 Comment

Como’s Secret Gardens

Posted on August 23, 2019 by comocompanion

Como’s Secret Gardens. On 21st and 22nd September, those in Como can, for the price of €8, visit a whole series of secret gardens and courtyards within the old city walls. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Events, Gardens, Itineraries, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Alessandro Volta, Carlo Carloni, Collegio Gallio, Conservatorio, ester negretti, Frescoes, Gardens, iubilantes, mantero, Palazzo Lambertenghi, Recchi, Via Volta | Leave a comment

Como’s Pope and other Odescalchi

Posted on July 6, 2019 by comocompanion

Como’s Pope and other Odescalchi. Florence has the Medici, Mantua the Gonzagas, Milan has the Visconti who merged through marriage with the Sforzas. Como for its part has the Odescalchi, Raimondi, Lambertenghi etc etc. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, History, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Alzate Brianza, aristocrats, Castello, Como, heraldry, History, Innocent XI, Innocenzo XI, nobility, Odescalchi, Pope, property auction, religion, Rome, stemme | Leave a comment

Palanzo on Show: A Pilgrimage to Serenity

Posted on June 13, 2019 by comocompanion

Palanzo in Mostra (Palanzo on Show) includes events and exhibitions from now to 29th
June which celebrate the town’s unique virtues. Palanzo and its neighbouring towns in Faggeto Lario are all undoubtedly very special. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Events, Itineraries, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Art, Faggeto Lario, Lake Como, Monte Palanzone, Palanzo, terracing, Torchio, wine press | Leave a comment

Swimability 2019: Lake Como’s Clean Water

Posted on May 22, 2019 by comocompanion

Swimability 2019: Lake Como’s Clean Water. Looking down into the clear waters of the lake on a warm summer’s day invokes the desire to jump in and swim! But can we be sure the water is safe for swimming? Continue reading →

Posted in Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged bacteria, bathing, beach, beaches, brienno, Careno, Como, e-coli, effluent, Enterococci, health, Lake, Lake Como, Moltrasio, pollution, swimming, Tremezzo, water quality, wild swimming | Leave a comment

Torno’s Santo Chiodo & Conflicts with Como

Posted on May 1, 2019 by comocompanion

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 | Leave a comment

A Castle in Distress: Tiina to the Rescue

Posted on April 29, 2019 by comocompanion

Carimate Castle has fallen upon hard times. It has been unoccupied and unmaintained since 2014. Now, long-time Carimate resident Tiina Hiekkaranta, also known locally as the (Finnish) Countess of Carimate, and her husband Timo want to save it Continue reading →