Category Archives: Politics

Heroism and Disaster in the Vallassina – Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27th

Posted on January 24, 2018 by comocompanion

As a memorial to the millions of victims of the Holocaust I would like to recall the act of a young priest in Sormano who guided a party of 16 Jewish refugees to safety in Switzerland and set an altruistic example to his parishioners. Continue reading →

Posted in History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged church, Don Carlo Banfi, History, Holocaust victims, Muro di Sormano, Nesso, Pian del Tivano, resistance, Schuster, Sormano, Valassina, Vallasina | 3 Comments

Como – How Green is Our City?

Posted on January 9, 2018 by comocompanion

Following on from the Legambiente’s report Ecosistema Urbana 2017, how well did Como do? Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged Como, ecology, environment, mantova, milan, pedestrianisation, pollution, smog, Sustainability, waste management, ztl | Leave a comment

Cortesella – The Mythical Heart of Old Como

Posted on September 15, 2017 by comocompanion

As Les Halles was to Paris or Seven Dials to London, so was the Cortesella to Como – the lost heart of the old town. The Cortesella (named after Via Cortesella) was a warren of narrow streets and alleyways to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, History, People, Places of interest, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Architecture, Banca d'Italia, Como, Cortesella, Frigerio, les halles, nostalgia, Parisi, Piazza Duomo, redevelopment, Terragni | Leave a comment

Mr. Savethewall – Como’s Spray-Can Artistic Campaigner

Posted on July 24, 2017 by comocompanion

If walking the streets of Como for any time, you will become aware of a local artist known as Mr. Savethewall. His two shopfronts, the immediate appeal of some of his iconic images such as Mr. Frogman and his intriguing … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Lake, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Art, campaigns, Como, Culture, lakefront, paratie, Pinocchio, pop art, rivogliamo nostro lago, savethewall, Street art, Streetscape, Ticosa | 2 Comments

A Dummy’s Guide to Voting in Como’s Local Election

Posted on June 5, 2017 by comocompanion

The first round of voting in Como’s local administrative elections is on Sunday June 11th. The vote in Como and in a number of other provincial councils is for the mayor and for the team of councillors listed under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged bureaucracy, elections, municipal elections, parking, tourism | Leave a comment

Liberating the Lakefront – Como Recovers Its Greatest Asset

Posted on May 18, 2017 by comocompanion

For residents and tourists alike, Como’s greatest asset must be its magnificent lakefront with its views north to Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Torno and to the summit of Mount Bisbino – so why has access to a large tract of it been … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, Lake, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Amici di Como, Como, Lake Como, lakeside, lungolago, paratie, Politics, scandal | 5 Comments

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

Don’t Mention the Mafia!

Posted on April 5, 2017 by comocompanion

The title ‘Don’t mention the Mafia!’ takes inspiration from the episode in Fawlty Towers when Basil admonishes his staff to not mention the war to his German guests. For those not brought up on UK comedy from the 1970’s, my … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Events, Food, History, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged boccassini, cermenate, crime, fino mornasco, infinito, insubria, intimidation, lecco, lomazzo, mafia, mani pulite, metastasi, ndrangheta, spalle coperte | 2 Comments

Como’s Cultural Highlight of the Year – ‘Noir in Festival’

Posted on December 8, 2016 by comocompanion

This time the hyperbole is all mine – the annual celebration of crime and mystery film and literature known as ‘Noir in Festival’ has moved from Courmayeur to Como and Milan. Courmayeur’s loss is definitely our gain since over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Events, History, Lake, People, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Camilleri, Carlotto, Como, crime, Culture, detective fiction, festivals, film, Montalbano, Noir, Sala Bianca, Teatro Sociale | Leave a comment

Como and Contraband – A Romanticised Legacy?

Posted on August 30, 2016 by comocompanion

The geological layout of Como tends to conceal the fact that it is definitely a border town. That is until political factors, such as the recent Swiss clamp-down on refugee entries, remind us of its physical location. And when those … Continue reading →