Category Archives: Places of interest

Myth and Reality: Lake Monsters and Political Scandal

Posted on August 13, 2017 by comocompanion

A piece of real ‘fake news’ turned up the other day in the local newspapers – a sighting of a prehistoric monster in the grounds of the long defunct textile factory, Ticosa, on the edge of Como’s historical centre. Regular … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Lake, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Lake Como, lake monsters, lariosauro, lariosaurus, Lierna, Mr. Savethewall, myth, Ticosa, Varenna | Leave a comment

Como Silk – Memoirs of a Textile Designer

Posted on July 28, 2017 by comocompanion

Como has been a tourist destination from the days of the Grand Tour but it maintains equal significance as a centre for silk production. Current visitors to Como might think that the silk industry is a thing of the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, History, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged abegg, archeology, bernasconi, cernobbio, Como, digitalisation, industry, inkjet, mantero, pinto, ratti, screen printing, silk, silk museum, villa erba | Leave a comment

Elegance at Villa D’Este

Posted on May 26, 2017 by comocompanion

Today is the start of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. This is an annual gathering of vintage cars and motorbikes along with their owners and admirers. In most previous years this event has mainly taken place within the grounds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Gardens, History, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged auctions, bugatti, cars, concorso d'eleganza, luxury, villa d'este, villa erba, vintage cars | 1 Comment

From Liberation Day to May Day

Posted on April 26, 2017 by comocompanion

April 25th was Liberation Day in Italy – a public holiday to honour the signing of the Armistice in Rome 72 years ago. This brought an end to the Nazifascist regime in Northern Italy. It is a day of commemoration … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, People, Places of interest, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged antifascists, Aramis, Como, fascists, garibaldini, Liberation Day, Metropole Suisse, Moltrasio, Mussolini, partisans, Pedro, Schiefer, war | 1 Comment

From Out of the Swamp, Novum Comum – Roman Como

Posted on February 28, 2017 by comocompanion

Como is in origin a Roman city named Novum Comum and founded in 59 BCE by none other than Julius Caesar, the father of the Roman Empire. The Roman presence persisted from then on until the collapse of the western … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, History, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged augustus, baths, caesar, Como, Culture, forum, History, market, mosaics, museo archeologico, novum comum, pliny, roman art, san fedele, valduce | Leave a comment

Como’s ‘Viaggi della Salvezza’ – In Memory of the Holocaust

Posted on February 16, 2017 by comocompanion

Last 27th January was Holocaust Memorial Day in both UK and Italy – and even though Como Companion is behind schedule on this, I would like to mark the event by looking at the heroic activities of one particular group … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, Itineraries, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Bisbino, Borders, bugone, cernobbio, corrias, customs, DELASEM, don marmori, gdf, guardia di finanza, holocaust, jews, medaglio d'oro, partisans, second world war, viaggi della salvezza, war | 2 Comments

Como’s Magic Light Festival – Citta dei Balocchi 2016/17

Posted on January 9, 2017 by comocompanion

This entry has now been moved to Photos. Click here to view.

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, Events, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Amici di Como, Christmas, Citta dei Balocchi, Como, Duomo, holidays, illuminations, lagodicomo, Lake Como, lights, magic light, Porta Torre, winter | Leave a comment

Christmas @Como

Posted on December 5, 2016 by comocompanion

The Christmas lights are on, the Christmas market is open, shoppers are out in force and from this Thursday – the day of the Immaculate Conception – the holiday season starts in earnest. Read on for a panoramic view of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, Food, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Balocchi, Broletto, Christmas, Como, concerts, concordia, cribs, Duomo, ice skating, lights, market, Patria, presepi | Leave a comment

Ester Maria Negretti – Como’s’Traditional’ Contemporary Artist

Posted on November 22, 2016 by comocompanion

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Ester Negretti, one of Como’s foremost artists, in her new studio and exhibition space at Via Borgo Vico 82. Having established that Ester was born, brought up, educated and studied in Como, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged Art, collage, Como, contemporary art, ester negretti, figurative art, insubria, lake art, landscapes, michaelangelo, ticino, via borgovico | 3 Comments

Como – The City of Light and the 8208 Lighting Design Festival.

Posted on November 12, 2016 by comocompanion

As days shorten, Como’s fascination with urban art installations focuses on the use of new lighting technologies – as evidenced from now until November 27th in the 8208 Lighting Design Festival. The festival takes the 8208 of its title … Continue reading →