Como is a city on the shores of Lake Como
in Lombardy north west Italy. It is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world
The fortunes of Como have been based on its proximity to Lake Como and also travel
across the Alps making Como both a popular tourist destination for much of its history as well as a
strategic asset. Throughout history the famous have lived and played on the shores of Lake Como
numerous historical figures were born in Como including Caecilius the poet Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Younger writers Pope Innocent 11th Alessandro Volta the scientist and Antonio Sant'Elia the architect
Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore.
It is over 400 metres deep and the bottom of the lake is over 200 meters below sea level lake Como
is y-shaped and is called the Larian Triangle
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There is evidence that shows that Como was established in the bronze age by the Orobii a Celtic tribe
it is also believed that these same people established Bergamo. Around the 1st century bc
the Romans founded the walled city of Como in its current location
under instructions of Julius Caesar. It was called Novum Comum. Villas were built encircling the lake
since Roman times, for example Pliny the Younger built the Comedia and the Tragedia resorts,
the latter of which is believed to be on the location of present-day Villa Serbelloni
In 772 Pope Adrian 1st fell out with Desiderius. Pope Adrian requested Charlemagne's
support and got it. Charlemagne crossed the Alps in 773 and chased the Lombards back into Italy.
In 774 Como surrendered to Charlemagne's army and soon became a commercial hub.
Como lost a long campaign with Milan in 1127.
Frederick 1st Barbarossa fortified the city defenses of Como of which Castle Baradello
survives until today. First the French invasion then the Spanish invasion this all lasted until
1714 and finally Como passed to the control of the Austrians. Napoleon ruled Lombardy between 1796
and 1815. Austrian rule was reinstated after the Congress of Vienna. Giuseppe Garibaldi liberated
Como in 1859 as part of the Reunification of the Kingdom of Italy which was under
the control of the House of Savoy. The Rockefeller fountain in the Bronx Zoo in New York City USA
was formerly in Piazza Cavour in Como. William Rockefeller bought it in 1902
from a cash strapped municipal authority in Como and moved it to the Big Apple.
Towards the end of World War ii Benito Mussolini fled through this region heading for Switzerland
on the 27th of April 1945. Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci
were captured at Dongo. They were both executed in front of Villa Belmonte in Giulino di Mezzegra
the economy of Como was largely industrial for example silk until the 1980s.
by the 1990s silk production from China drove Como industry out of business. Como was also now
being absorbed by the urban sprawl of Milan which is the commercial capital of Italy.
The commercial pull of nearby Switzerland is also strong due to much higher wages. Tourism is now
the key driver of the economy in Como. In 2018 the Italian luxury label Dolce & Gabbana held a
fashion event on Lake Como. Villa Carlotta was once owned by the Princess of Nassau.
Villa Melzi d'Eril, Bellaggio was the home of the Italian vice president
at the time of the first Italian republic and was once visited by the composer Franz Liszt
Villa del Balbianello, Tremezzina
is one you may have seen before. It was the filming location for Star Wars Attack of the Clones
and Casino Royale Villa d'Este, in Cernobbio was
built in 1568 by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. it was briefly the home of Queen Consort
of King George IV of the United Kingdom and is now a luxury hotel which is popular with celebrities.
Como has been used repeatedly as a filming location for a
number of movies you may have seen this includes:
A Month by the Lake (1995), starring Vanessa Redgrave and Uma Thurman
Ocean's Twelve (2004), starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt
The British TV series Top Gear, filmed around Lake Como.
It has also featured in music videos Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Gorillaz
Como is referenced in numerous books for example On Her Majesty's Secret Service by Ian Fleming
The Betrother Alessandro Manzoni The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal
The Innocents Abroad Mark Twain A Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway
Endgame Samuel Beckett Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe
The construction of the cathedral of Como began in 1396 and finished in 1740
Basilica of Sant'Abbondio was consecrated in 1095 by Pope Urban ii the French pope
who called for the 1st Crusade. What can you find in Como?
The ancient town hall also known as Broletto Monumento ai Caduti a war memorial
by Giuseppe Terragni Teatro Sociale
Villa Olmo built in 1797 housed Napoleon, Ugo Foscolo,
Prince Metternich, Archduke Franz Ferdinand I, and Giuseppe Garibaldi
Tempio Voltiano is a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta a famous Comasco inventor