Tag Archives: travel

Federico Frigerio: The Face of Como

Posted on October 14, 2025 by comocompanion

There is one architect in particular we should credit for influencing the way Como looks today. He is Federico Frigerio (1873-1959). He worked incessantly from 1897 until 1945 producing or renovating many of the most significant buildings in the city’s historical centre. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Culture, History, Itineraries, People, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged europe, italy, travel | 2 Comments

Como’s Twin-Tailed Mermaids

Posted on June 23, 2025 by comocompanion

The Melusina – a twin-tailed mermaid – can be seen in a variety of locations around Como. We explore the myth of the Melusina and why her symbol adorns both religious and secular buildings in the city. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Folklore, History, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged carving, crests, Duomo, fiction, France, History, keystones, legends, Melusina, mermaids, Moltrasio, mythology, myths, Porta della Rana, Renaissance, Richard I, Rodari, travel | 1 Comment

Beyond the City Walls: Via Milano

Posted on May 21, 2025 by comocompanion

Lily pond or trout stream? The historic centre or Via Milano? Why the centre of Como needs to be reinvigorated by its vivacious urban trributary – and why a visit beyond the city walls can be so rewarding. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, Food, History, Itineraries, Places of interest, Restaurants, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged 5 giornate, anello del miracolo, aperitivo, art supplies, cappelleria, Como, courtyards, enoteca, italy, Jollof, lifestyle, menu del giorno, ramen, ringhiera, san bartolomeo, Schuster, travel, Via Milano, zio ghelfi | Leave a comment

Lake Como and the Grand Tour

Posted on March 21, 2025 by comocompanion

The launch of the Romantic movement at the start of the nineteenth century caused many literary and artistic travellers to include Como and its lake in their Grand Tour of Italy. A collection of excerpts from these accounts has recently been published and forms the inspiration for this article. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Uncategorized | Tagged europe, italy, travel | 4 Comments

Saint Barbara at Como

Posted on December 17, 2024 by comocompanion

Why is there a third window at the top of the Porta Torre? Why was a painting of Saint Barbara commissioned for Como at the end of the war? Why do firefighters still celebrate her on 4th December? Answers lie in the legend of this saint. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, Folklore, History, Uncategorized | Tagged Baradello, bombs, Byzantium, christianity, Como, Duomo, faith, History, iconography, Martyrs, Porta Torre, Raphael, Saint Barbara, saints, travel | Leave a comment

Como’s Christmas Spirits

Posted on December 6, 2024 by comocompanion

Città dei Balocchi revive the Christmas spirit in Como this year and the lake in turn inspires a range of spirits to try out over the holiday season. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, industry, Lake, silk, Uncategorized | Tagged alcohol, amaro, Christmas, Città dei Balocchi, Como, drinks, gin, illuminations, italy, Lake Como, Rivo, Teatro Sociale, Tivan, tourism, travel, whisky | Leave a comment

Lake Pusiano, Cypresses and Wallabies

Posted on October 22, 2024 by comocompanion

A gulp of cormorants, a creep of tortoises and a troupe pf wallabies – the varying fortunes of the magical Isola dei Cipressi on Lake Pusiano. Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, History, Lake, Places of interest, rowing, wildlife | Tagged Brianza, Como, cormorants, Eugene Beauharnais, fish, italy, Lake Pusiano, nature, Palazzo Carpani, Resegone, tortoises, travel, wallabies | Leave a comment

Como’s Nostalgia For…..Wash Houses

Posted on June 23, 2024 by comocompanion

The wash house (Lavatoio in Italian) is a common architectural feature across Italy and no less so in the mountain communities around Lake Como. Technological and social changes have rendered them almost entirely redundant yet many still remain and a significant number have even been renovated and restored. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, Folklore, History, Lake, Places of interest, Uncategorized | Tagged cleaning, Como, Food, Lake Como, laundry, lavandaia, lavatoio, nature, nostalgia, travel, wash house | 1 Comment

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 Tourism Post Covid

Posted on April 1, 2024 by comocompanion

Lake Como’s natural charms are secure but does Como tourism possess the necessary infrastructure, professionalism and will to meet the challenges of success, to safeguard and publicise the qualities of the ‘brand’ and to satisfy the evolving demand for ‘experiential’ tourism? Continue reading →