Como
Encyclopedia
Como is a city
and comune
in Lombardy
, Italy
.
It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como
.
Its proximity to Lake Como
and to the Alps
has made Como a popular tourist destination and the city contains numerous works of art
, churches, garden
s, museum
s, theatre
s, park
s and palaces: the Duomo
(seat of Diocese of Como), the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio
, the Villa Olmo
, the public gardens with the Tempio Voltiano
, the Teatro Sociale, the Broletto
(the city’s medieval town hall) and the 20th century Casa del Fascio
.
Como was the birthplace of a good number of historically notable figures, including the (somewhat obscure) poet Caecilius who is mentioned by Catullus
in the 1st century BCE, the far more substantial literary figures of Pliny the Elder
and the Younger
, Pope Innocent XI
, the scientist Alessandro Volta
, and Cosima Liszt, second wife of Richard Wagner
and long-term director of the Bayreuth Festival
.
The hills surrounding the current location of Como have been inhabited, since at least the Bronze Age
, by a Celt
ic tribe known as the Orobii
. Remains of settlements are still present on the wood covered hills to the South West of town.
Around the 1st century BC, the territory became subject to the Romans. The town center was situated on the nearby hills, but it was then moved to its current location by order of Julius Caesar
, who had the swamp near the southern tip of the lake drained and laid the plan of the walled city in the typical Roman grid of perpendicular streets. The newly founded town was named Novum Comum and had the status of municipium.
In 774, the town surrendered to invading Franks
led by Charlemagne
, and became a center of commercial exchange.
In 1127, Como lost a decade-long war with the nearby town of Milan
. A few decades later, with the help of Frederick Barbarossa, the Comaschi could avenge their defeat when Milan was destroyed in 1162. Frederick promoted the construction of several defensive towers around the city limits, of which only one, the Baradello, remains.
Subsequently, the history of Como followed that of the Ducato di Milano
, through the French invasion and the Spanish domination, until 1714, when the territory was taken by the Austrians. Napoleon descended into Lombardy in 1796 and ruled it until 1815, when the Austrian rule was resumed after the Congress of Vienna
. Finally in 1859, with the arrival of Giuseppe Garibaldi
, the town was freed from the Austrians and it became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy
.
At the end of World War II, after passing through Como on his escape towards Switzerland, Benito Mussolini
was taken prisoner and then shot by partisans in Giulino di Mezzegra
, a small town on the north shores of Como Lake.
In 2010, a motion by members of the nationalist Swiss People's Party
(SVP) has been submitted to the Swiss parliament requesting the admission of adjacent territories
to the Swiss Confederation; Como (and its province) is one of these.
As a curiosity, the Rockefeller fountain that today stands in the Bronx Zoo
in New York City was once in the main square (Piazza Cavour) by the lakeside. It was bought by William Rockefeller
in 1902 for 3,500 lira
(the estimated equivalent then of $637).
, is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Milan
; the city proper borders Switzerland
and the comunes of Blevio
, Brunate
, Capiago Intimiano
, Casnate con Bernate
, Cavallasca
, Cernobbio
, Grandate
, Lipomo
, Maslianico
, Montano Lucino
, San Fermo della Battaglia
, Senna Comasco
, Tavernerio
, Torno and the Swiss towns of Chiasso
and Vacallo
. Nearby major cities are Varese
, Lecco
and Lugano
.
, Como has a humid subtropical climate
(Cfa); winters are not long, but foggy, damp and chilly with occasional periods of frost from the siberian anticyclone
; spring and autumn are well marked and pleasant, while summer can be quite oppressive, hot and humid. Wind is quite rare; only sudden bursts of foehn or thunderstorms manage to sweep the air clean.
Pollution levels rise significantly in winter when cold air clings to the soil. Rain is more frequent during spring; summer is subject to thunderstorms and, occasionally, violent hailstorms.
where it mainly provides workers to the service industry sector. A significant number of residents is employed in the nearby industrial areas of the Swiss towns of Lugano and Mendrisio, primarily in the industrial sector, health care services and in the hospitality industry
; the 30 km (19 mi) commute is beneficial as wages in Switzerland are notably higher. For these reasons, tourism
has become increasingly important for the local economy since the 1990s. The city and the lake have been chosen as the filming location for various recent popular feature films, and this, together with the increasing presence of celebrities who have bought lakeside properties, has heightened the city's international profile and given a further boost to international tourism.
, when manufacturing, especially the silk industry, was in its boom years. As production began to decline, the population decreased by almost 20,000 people until the turn of the century, when the city has seen its population grow again by more than six thousand units mainly because of immigration from countries such as China
, Romania
and Egypt
. As of January 2010, more than nine thousand resident aliens lived in the city (12%); the ethnic composition was as follows:
is a popular dish in Como, and was traditionally eaten for meals in winter time. It is obtained by mixing and cooking corn flour and buckwheat. It is usually served with meat, game, cheese and sometimes fish; in fact, Polenta e Misultin (Alosa agone
) is served in the restaurants in the Lake Como area.
A traditional dish is the Risotto con Filetti di Pesce Persico or simply Risotto al Pesce Persico (European Perch
filet Risotto
), a fish grown in Lake Como, prepared with white wine, onion, butter and wheat.
and LeNORD
through two main stations: Como San Giovanni
(Trenitalia) and Como Lago (LeNORD). There is another urban station served by Trenitalia (Albate) and three more urban stations served by LeNORD (Como Borghi-Università, Como Camerlata and Grandate Breccia).
Como San Giovanni is also a stop on the main North-South line between Milan Centrale and Zurich and Basel. Intercity and Eurostar trains stop at this station, which makes Como very accessible from the European express train network. Tickets can be purchased online from Rail Europe
.
A funicular railway connects the center of Como with Brunate
, a small village (1,800 inhabitants) on a mountain at 715 m (2,346 ft) above sea level
.
Ferrovie Nord Milano
also provides other bus lines connecting Como to Varese in substitution of the original railway line that was dismissed in the 1960s.
A taxi service is provided by the Municipality of Como.
) and Orio al Serio Airport near Bergamo
. Milano Malpensa can be reached in about one hour by car; about two hours by train to Stazione Centrale (Milano Central) and then direct shuttle coach or about an hour and a half by train (interchange in Saronno
); Milano Linate
can be reached by car in about an hour, or by train to Stazione Centrale and then local tram. Bergamo's Orio al Serio Airport
can be reached in about an hour and a quarter by car; in two hours by train to Milano Central and then half-hourly shuttle coach. Lugano Agno
can be reached by car in less than an hour or by train in an hour and a half (changing once and walking) but it only offers direct flights to Switzerland and Italy and generally higher-priced business class or private charter.
Trains from Como to Zurich Airport take three to five hours.
Como also has its own aeroplane club with a fleet of sea planes, limited to flight training and local tour flights.
s, the academy
of music
"G. Verdi", a language school
, the University of Insubria
and a branch campus of the Politecnico di Milano.
, and Calcio Como, a football team. There are also numerous recreational activities available for tourists such as pedal-boating, fishing, walking and seaplane rentals.
These celebrities have lived in or owned properties in Como or on its lake :
, Germany
, since 1960 Tokamachi, Japan
, since 1975 Nablus
, Palestine
, since 1998 Netanya
, Israel
, since 2004 Trieste
, Italy
, since 2008
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como
Province of Como
The Province of Como is a province in the north of the Lombardy region of Italy and borders the Swiss cantons of Ticino and Grigioni to the North, the Italian provinces of Sondrio and Lecco to the East, the Province of Milan to the south and the Province of Varese to the West...
.
Its proximity to Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
and to the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
has made Como a popular tourist destination and the city contains numerous works of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, churches, garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s, museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
s, park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s and palaces: the Duomo
Como Cathedral
Como Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Como, Lombardy, Italy, and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral, located near Lake Como, is one of the most important buildings in the region...
(seat of Diocese of Como), the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio
Basilica of Sant'Abbondio
The Basilica of Sant'Abbondio is a church in Como, Lombardy, northern Italy.The current edifice rises over a pre-existing 5th century Palaeo-Christian church entitled to Sts. Peter and Paul, built by order of St. Amantius of Como, third bishop of the city. Erected c...
, the Villa Olmo
Villa Olmo
Villa Olmo is a neoclassic villa located in the city of Como, northern Italy.-History:The construction began in 1797 and was commissioned by marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi to the Swiss architect Simone Cantoni....
, the public gardens with the Tempio Voltiano
Tempio Voltiano
The Tempio Voltiano is a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta situated in the city of Como, Italy.The neoclassical building was completed in 1927 to celebrate the 100th death anniversary of the scientist, but it was inaugurated only in 1928....
, the Teatro Sociale, the Broletto
Broletto
Broletto is an ancient Italian word, from medieval Latin "broilum, brogilum", which probably derives from a Celtic word. Its first meaning is "little orchard or garden"; hence the meaning "field surrounded by a wall"...
(the city’s medieval town hall) and the 20th century Casa del Fascio
Casa del Fascio (Como)
The Casa del Fascio is a building located in Como, northern Italy, a work of Italian rationalist architect Giuseppe Terragni.Started in 1932 and completed in 1936 under the regime of Benito Mussolini, this municipal administration building was originally constructed with a primary view of...
.
Como was the birthplace of a good number of historically notable figures, including the (somewhat obscure) poet Caecilius who is mentioned by Catullus
Catullus
Gaius Valerius Catullus was a Latin poet of the Republican period. His surviving works are still read widely, and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.-Biography:...
in the 1st century BCE, the far more substantial literary figures of Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
and the Younger
Pliny the Younger
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo , better known as Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and educate him...
, Pope Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI
Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...
, the scientist Alessandro Volta
Alessandro Volta
Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta was a Lombard physicist known especially for the invention of the battery in 1800.-Early life and works:...
, and Cosima Liszt, second wife of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
and long-term director of the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
.
History
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, by a Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic tribe known as the Orobii
Orobii
The Orobii also Orumobii or Orumbovii were a population that inhabited the northern Italian valleys of Bergamo, Como and Lecco in the 1st millennium BC....
. Remains of settlements are still present on the wood covered hills to the South West of town.
Around the 1st century BC, the territory became subject to the Romans. The town center was situated on the nearby hills, but it was then moved to its current location by order of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, who had the swamp near the southern tip of the lake drained and laid the plan of the walled city in the typical Roman grid of perpendicular streets. The newly founded town was named Novum Comum and had the status of municipium.
In 774, the town surrendered to invading Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
led by Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, and became a center of commercial exchange.
In 1127, Como lost a decade-long war with the nearby town of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. A few decades later, with the help of Frederick Barbarossa, the Comaschi could avenge their defeat when Milan was destroyed in 1162. Frederick promoted the construction of several defensive towers around the city limits, of which only one, the Baradello, remains.
Subsequently, the history of Como followed that of the Ducato di Milano
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
, through the French invasion and the Spanish domination, until 1714, when the territory was taken by the Austrians. Napoleon descended into Lombardy in 1796 and ruled it until 1815, when the Austrian rule was resumed after the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
. Finally in 1859, with the arrival of Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
, the town was freed from the Austrians and it became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
.
At the end of World War II, after passing through Como on his escape towards Switzerland, Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
was taken prisoner and then shot by partisans in Giulino di Mezzegra
Giulino di Mezzegra
Giulino is an Italian frazione of the Comune of Mezzegra, in the province of Como.-Early history:...
, a small town on the north shores of Como Lake.
In 2010, a motion by members of the nationalist Swiss People's Party
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
(SVP) has been submitted to the Swiss parliament requesting the admission of adjacent territories
Enlargement of Switzerland
The enlargement of Switzerland by way of the admission of new cantons to the Swiss Confederation ended in 1815. After a failed attempt of Vorarlberg to join Switzerland in 1919, the idea of resuming Swiss enlargement was revived in 2010 by a parliamentary motion of 28 right-wing members of the...
to the Swiss Confederation; Como (and its province) is one of these.
As a curiosity, the Rockefeller fountain that today stands in the Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....
in New York City was once in the main square (Piazza Cavour) by the lakeside. It was bought by William Rockefeller
William Rockefeller
William Avery Rockefeller, Jr. , American financier, was a co-founder with his older brother John D. Rockefeller of the prominent United States Rockefeller family. He was the son of William Avery Rockefeller, Sr. and Eliza Rockefeller.-Youth, education:Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York,...
in 1902 for 3,500 lira
Italian lira
The lira was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, the Italian lira was officially a “national subunit” of the euro...
(the estimated equivalent then of $637).
Geography
Situated at the southern tip of the south-west arm of Lake ComoLake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
, is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
; the city proper borders Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and the comunes of Blevio
Blevio
Blevio is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 2 km northeast of Como...
, Brunate
Brunate
Brunate is an Italian town and comune, part of the province of Como, near Lake Como . It has 1,770 residents, but is much more populated in summer, when tourists rent houses and apartments...
, Capiago Intimiano
Capiago Intimiano
Capiago is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 35 km north of Milan and about 6 km southeast of Como...
, Casnate con Bernate
Casnate con Bernate
Casnate con Bernate is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, about 30 km north of Milan and about 5 km south of Como...
, Cavallasca
Cavallasca
Cavallasca is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 4 km west of Como, on the border with Switzerland...
, Cernobbio
Cernobbio
Cernobbio is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about northwest of Como, on the border with Switzerland...
, Grandate
Grandate
Grandate is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about southwest of Como....
, Lipomo
Lipomo
Lipomo is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about southeast of Como. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,758 and an area of 2.5 km²....
, Maslianico
Maslianico
Maslianico is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about northwest of Como, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,469 and an area of 1.3 km².Maslianico borders the following...
, Montano Lucino
Montano Lucino
Montano Lucino is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about 5 km southwest of Como....
, San Fermo della Battaglia
San Fermo della Battaglia
San Fermo della Battaglia is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 3 km southwest of Como...
, Senna Comasco
Senna Comasco
Senna Comasco is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 35 km north of Milan and about 6 km south of Como...
, Tavernerio
Tavernerio
Tavernerio is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 35 km north of Milan and about 6 km east of Como...
, Torno and the Swiss towns of Chiasso
Chiasso
Chiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso...
and Vacallo
Vacallo
Vacallo is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It is the first village of the Valle di Muggio.-History:...
. Nearby major cities are Varese
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
, Lecco
Lecco
Lecco is a town of c. 47,760 inhabitants in Lombardy, northern Italy, north of Milan, the capital of the province of Lecco. It lies at the end of the south-eastern branch of Lake Como...
and Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
.
Administrative Subdivision
Como is divided into the following (roughly equivalent to the anglocentric ward):- 1 - Albate - Muggio' - Acquanera
- 2 - Lora
- 3 - Prestino - Camerlata - Breccia - Rebbio
- 4 - Camnago Volta
- 5 - City Center - West Como
- 6 - Borghi
- 7 - North Como - East Como
- 8 - Monte Olimpino - Ponte Chiasso - Sagnino - Tavernola
- 9 - Garzola - Civiglio
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, Como has a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Cfa); winters are not long, but foggy, damp and chilly with occasional periods of frost from the siberian anticyclone
Siberian High
The Siberian High is a massive collection of cold or very cold dry air that accumulates on the Eurasian terrain for much of the year. It reaches its greatest size and strength in the winter, when the air temperature near the center of the high-pressure cell or anticyclone is often lower than...
; spring and autumn are well marked and pleasant, while summer can be quite oppressive, hot and humid. Wind is quite rare; only sudden bursts of foehn or thunderstorms manage to sweep the air clean.
Pollution levels rise significantly in winter when cold air clings to the soil. Rain is more frequent during spring; summer is subject to thunderstorms and, occasionally, violent hailstorms.
Churches
- Como CathedralComo CathedralComo Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Como, Lombardy, Italy, and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral, located near Lake Como, is one of the most important buildings in the region...
: construction began in 1396 on the site of the previous Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The façade was built in 1457, with the characteristic rose window and a portal flanked by two Renaissance statues of the famous comaschi Pliny the ElderPliny the ElderGaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
and Pliny the YoungerPliny the YoungerGaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo , better known as Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and educate him...
. The construction was finished in 1740. The interior is on the Latin cross plan, with GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
nave and two aisles divided by piers, while the transept wing and the relative apses are from the Renaissance age. It includes a carved 16th century choir and tapestries on cartoons by Giuseppe Arcimboldi. The dome is a rococoRococoRococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
structure by Filippo JuvarraFilippo JuvarraFilippo Juvarra was an Italian architect and stage set designer.-Biography:Filippo Juvarra was an Italian Baroque architect working in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was born in Messina, Sicily, to a family of goldsmiths and engravers...
. Other artworks include 16th-17th century tapestries and 16th century paintings by Bernardino LuiniBernardino LuiniBernardino Luini was a North Italian painter from Leonardo's circle. Both Luini and Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio were said to have worked with Leonardo directly; he was described to have taken "as much from Leonardo as his native roots enabled him to comprehend". Consequently many of his works were...
and Gaudenzio FerrariGaudenzio FerrariGaudenzio Ferrari was a Northern Italian painter and sculptor of the Renaissance.-Biography:Gaudenzio was born at Valduggia in the Valsesia in the Duchy of Milan. Valduggia is now in the Province of Vercelli in Piedmont. He is said to have first learned the art of painting at Vercelli from...
. - San Fedele, a Romanesque church erected around 1120 over a pre-existing central plan edifice. The original bell tower was rebuilt in modern times. The main feature is the famous Door of St. Fedele, carved with medieval decorations.
- Sant'Agostino, built by the Cistercians in the early 14th century, heavily renovated in the 20th. The interior and adjoining cloister have 15th-17th century frescoes, but most of the decoration is BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
. - The Romanesque basilica of Sant'AbbondioBasilica of Sant'AbbondioThe Basilica of Sant'Abbondio is a church in Como, Lombardy, northern Italy.The current edifice rises over a pre-existing 5th century Palaeo-Christian church entitled to Sts. Peter and Paul, built by order of St. Amantius of Como, third bishop of the city. Erected c...
, consecrated in 1095 by Pope Urban II. The interior, with a nave and four aisles, contains paintings dating to the 11th century and frescoes from the 14th. - San Carpoforo (11th century, apse and crypt from 12th century). According to tradition, it was founded re-using a former temple of the God MercuryMercury (mythology)Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
to house the remains of Saint CarpophorusCarpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and LiciniusCarpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus and Licinius were Christian soldiers who, according to local tradition, were martyred at Como during the reign of Maximian.-Legends:...
and other local martyrs.
Secular buildings and monuments
- The ancient town hall, known as the BrolettoBrolettoBroletto is an ancient Italian word, from medieval Latin "broilum, brogilum", which probably derives from a Celtic word. Its first meaning is "little orchard or garden"; hence the meaning "field surrounded by a wall"...
- Casa del Fascio, possibly Giuseppe TerragniGiuseppe TerragniGiuseppe Terragni was an Italian architect who worked primarily under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and pioneered the Italian modern movement under the rubric of Rationalism...
's most famous work. It has been described as an early "landmark of modern European architecture". - Monumento ai caduti (war memorial) by Giuseppe TerragniGiuseppe TerragniGiuseppe Terragni was an Italian architect who worked primarily under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and pioneered the Italian modern movement under the rubric of Rationalism...
- Teatro Sociale by Giuseppe Cusi
- Villa OlmoVilla OlmoVilla Olmo is a neoclassic villa located in the city of Como, northern Italy.-History:The construction began in 1797 and was commissioned by marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi to the Swiss architect Simone Cantoni....
, built from 1797 in neoclassicist style by the Odescalchi family. It housed Napoleon, Ugo FoscoloUgo FoscoloUgo Foscolo , born Niccolò Foscolo, was an Italian writer, revolutionary and poet.-Biography:Foscolo was born on the Ionian island of Zakynthos...
, Prince Metternich, Archduke Franz Ferdinand IArchduke Franz Ferdinand of AustriaFranz Ferdinand was an Archduke of Austria-Este, Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia, and from 1889 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia...
, Giuseppe GaribaldiGiuseppe GaribaldiGiuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
, and other eminent figures. It is now seat of exhibitions. - Monumental Fountain also known as Volta's Fountain, is a monument to Volta's battery; it was designed by architect Carlo Cattaneo and painter Mario RadiceMario RadiceMario Radice was an Italian painter born in Como. He is considered to be an important Italian abstract artist.-Life and work:...
and is a 9 m high cement combination of alternating spheres and rings. It is in the center of Camerlata square. - Ancient walls (medieval)
- Castello BaradelloCastello BaradelloThe Castello Baradello is a military fortification built in the year 1159 by Frederick Barbarossa on a 430 m. high hill, next to the city of Como, Italy....
, a small medieval castle overlooking the town and which is all that remains of the fortress constructed by BarbarossaFrederick I, Holy Roman EmperorFrederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
c. 1158.
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Economy
The economy of Como, until the end of the 1980s, was traditionally based on industry; in particular, the city was world famous for its silk manufacturers but in recent years cheap competition from China has significantly reduced profit margins and many small and mid-sized manufacturers have gone out of business. As a consequence manufacturing is no longer the economic driver and the city has been absorbed into Milan's metropolitan areaMilan metropolitan area
The Milan metropolitan area, known as Grande Milano , is the urban agglomeration around the city of Milan, Italy.The spatial spread of the Milan metropolitan area has greatly accelerated over recent decades...
where it mainly provides workers to the service industry sector. A significant number of residents is employed in the nearby industrial areas of the Swiss towns of Lugano and Mendrisio, primarily in the industrial sector, health care services and in the hospitality industry
Hospitality industry
The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry...
; the 30 km (19 mi) commute is beneficial as wages in Switzerland are notably higher. For these reasons, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
has become increasingly important for the local economy since the 1990s. The city and the lake have been chosen as the filming location for various recent popular feature films, and this, together with the increasing presence of celebrities who have bought lakeside properties, has heightened the city's international profile and given a further boost to international tourism.
Ethnic groups and immigration
The city of Como has seen its population count increase until it peaked at almost 100,000 inhabitants in the 1970s1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, when manufacturing, especially the silk industry, was in its boom years. As production began to decline, the population decreased by almost 20,000 people until the turn of the century, when the city has seen its population grow again by more than six thousand units mainly because of immigration from countries such as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. As of January 2010, more than nine thousand resident aliens lived in the city (12%); the ethnic composition was as follows:
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Museums
In Como there are the following museums and exhibition centers:- Museo Archeologico "P. Giovio" - Archeological museum
- Museo Storico "Garibaldi" - a museum dedicated to Giuseppe GaribaldiGiuseppe GaribaldiGiuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
- Tempio VoltianoTempio VoltianoThe Tempio Voltiano is a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta situated in the city of Como, Italy.The neoclassical building was completed in 1927 to celebrate the 100th death anniversary of the scientist, but it was inaugurated only in 1928....
- a museum devoted to Alessandro VoltaAlessandro VoltaCount Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta was a Lombard physicist known especially for the invention of the battery in 1800.-Early life and works:...
's work. - Villa OlmoVilla OlmoVilla Olmo is a neoclassic villa located in the city of Como, northern Italy.-History:The construction began in 1797 and was commissioned by marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi to the Swiss architect Simone Cantoni....
- various exhibitions - Museo Didattico Della Seta - Educational Silk Museum
- Museo Liceo classico "A. Volta" - Scientific Museum
- Pinacoteca Civica - Paintings
Cuisine
PolentaPolenta
Polenta is a dish made from boiled cornmeal. The word "polenta" is borrowed from Italian.-Description:Polenta is made with ground yellow or white cornmeal , which can be ground coarsely or finely depending on the region and the texture desired.As it is known today, polenta derives from earlier...
is a popular dish in Como, and was traditionally eaten for meals in winter time. It is obtained by mixing and cooking corn flour and buckwheat. It is usually served with meat, game, cheese and sometimes fish; in fact, Polenta e Misultin (Alosa agone
Alosa agone
Alosa agone is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Alosa.Alosa agone is an endangered species of the Alosa genus.-Species Description:...
) is served in the restaurants in the Lake Como area.
A traditional dish is the Risotto con Filetti di Pesce Persico or simply Risotto al Pesce Persico (European Perch
European perch
The European perch, Perca fluviatilis, is a predatory species of perch found in Europe and Asia. In some areas it is known as the redfin perch or English perch, and it is often known simply as perch. The species is a popular quarry for anglers and has been widely introduced beyond its native area,...
filet Risotto
Risotto
Risotto is a class of Italian dishes of rice cooked in broth to a creamy consistency. The broth may be meat-, fish-, or vegetable-based; many kinds include Parmesan cheese, butter, and onion...
), a fish grown in Lake Como, prepared with white wine, onion, butter and wheat.
Trains
The Servizio Ferroviario Regionale (Regional Railway Service) connects Como by train to other major cities in Lombardy. Services are provided by TrenitaliaTrenitalia
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
and LeNORD
LeNORD
' is the subsidiary of the FNM Group responsible for operating passenger train services in northern Italy....
through two main stations: Como San Giovanni
Como San Giovanni railway station
Como San Giovanni railway station is the main station serving the city and comune of Como, in the region of Lombardy, northern Italy. Opened in 1875, it forms part of the Milan–Chiasso railway, and is also a terminus of the Como–Lecco railway, which branches off the main line a few kilometres to...
(Trenitalia) and Como Lago (LeNORD). There is another urban station served by Trenitalia (Albate) and three more urban stations served by LeNORD (Como Borghi-Università, Como Camerlata and Grandate Breccia).
Como San Giovanni is also a stop on the main North-South line between Milan Centrale and Zurich and Basel. Intercity and Eurostar trains stop at this station, which makes Como very accessible from the European express train network. Tickets can be purchased online from Rail Europe
Rail Europe
Rail Europe is a specialist in passes and point-to-point tickets for rail travel around Europe. With close links to European rail operators including SNCF, Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, Elipsos, Artésia and Thalys, it is made up of four independently run companies operating in distinct geographical...
.
A funicular railway connects the center of Como with Brunate
Brunate
Brunate is an Italian town and comune, part of the province of Como, near Lake Como . It has 1,770 residents, but is much more populated in summer, when tourists rent houses and apartments...
, a small village (1,800 inhabitants) on a mountain at 715 m (2,346 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
.
Buses and Taxis
The local public transport network counts 11 urban (within city limits) lines and 'extra-urban' (crossing city limits) (C) lines connecting Como with most of its province centers. They are provided by ASF Autolinee.| Urban Lines |
|---|
Line 01: Chiasso Chiasso Chiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso... (train station) – San Fermo della Battaglia San Fermo della Battaglia San Fermo della Battaglia is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 3 km southwest of Como... Line 02: Suppressed Line 03: Lora – Camerlata - Grandate Grandate Grandate is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about southwest of Como.... Line 04: San Giovanni (train station) – Camnago Volta Line 05: San Giovanni (train station) – Civiglio Line 06: Maslianico Maslianico Maslianico is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about northwest of Como, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,469 and an area of 1.3 km².Maslianico borders the following... – Breccia Line 07: Sagnino – Lora Line 08: San Giovanni (train station) – Casnate con Bernate Casnate con Bernate Casnate con Bernate is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, about 30 km north of Milan and about 5 km south of Como... Line 09: Piazza Cavour – Monumental Cemetery Line 10: Albate – Navedano Line 11: Sagnino - Bassone Line 12: Camerlata - Lazzago - San Fermo della Battaglia San Fermo della Battaglia San Fermo della Battaglia is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 3 km southwest of Como... - Tavernola |
Ferrovie Nord Milano
Ferrovie Nord Milano
450px|thumb|Map of the main branch of the FNM lines. FNM operates also the [[Brescia]]-[[Edolo]] railway in eastern [[Lombardy]], not shown in map.Ferrovie Nord Milano is an Italian public transport company: the second largest railway company in Italy. It operates primarily in the northern Italian...
also provides other bus lines connecting Como to Varese in substitution of the original railway line that was dismissed in the 1960s.
A taxi service is provided by the Municipality of Como.
Ship Transport
The boats and hydrofoils (aliscafi) of Navigazione Lago di Como connect the town with most of the villages sitting on the shores of the lake.Airports
Nearby airports providing scheduled flights are Milano Malpensa, Milano Linate, Lugano Agno (in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) and Orio al Serio Airport near Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
. Milano Malpensa can be reached in about one hour by car; about two hours by train to Stazione Centrale (Milano Central) and then direct shuttle coach or about an hour and a half by train (interchange in Saronno
Saronno
Saronno is a comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Varese. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree in 1960.The place is well known for its apricot kernel biscuits and is also a manufacturing town....
); Milano Linate
Linate Airport
Linate Airport is one of the three major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan—it is east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is northwest of the city—it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul...
can be reached by car in about an hour, or by train to Stazione Centrale and then local tram. Bergamo's Orio al Serio Airport
Orio al Serio Airport
Caravaggio Airport Bergamo Orio al Serio aka Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport is an airport located in Orio al Serio, southeast of Bergamo, Italy. It is popular with low-cost airlines offering flights to Milan, 45 km away from the airport...
can be reached in about an hour and a quarter by car; in two hours by train to Milano Central and then half-hourly shuttle coach. Lugano Agno
Lugano Airport
Lugano Airport is a regional airport located west of Lugano, Switzerland. It lies closer to the nearby village of Agno than to Lugano itself, and so is usually known as Lugano-Agno....
can be reached by car in less than an hour or by train in an hour and a half (changing once and walking) but it only offers direct flights to Switzerland and Italy and generally higher-priced business class or private charter.
Trains from Como to Zurich Airport take three to five hours.
Como also has its own aeroplane club with a fleet of sea planes, limited to flight training and local tour flights.
Education
Como is home to numerous high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s, the academy
Academy
An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...
of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
"G. Verdi", a language school
Language school
A language school is a school where one studies a foreign language. Classes at a language school are usually geared towards, but not limited to, communicative competence in a foreign language...
, the University of Insubria
University of Insubria
The University of Insubria is a university located in Como and Varese, Italy. It was founded in 1998, it is organized in 5 Faculties and it has been named after the area where it is situated, the Regio Insubrica or, as more commonly called, Insubria....
and a branch campus of the Politecnico di Milano.
Medical facilities
In Como there are three major hospitals: Ospedale Sant'Anna, Ospedale Valduce and Clinica Villa ApricaSports
Notable sports clubs are a basketball team, two time winner of the FIBA EuroLeague WomenEuroLeague Women
The EuroLeague Women is the highest professional basketball league in Europe for women’s clubs.Unlike Euroleague for men, the competition is entirely organized by FIBA Europe.-Between 2004-2011:...
, and Calcio Como, a football team. There are also numerous recreational activities available for tourists such as pedal-boating, fishing, walking and seaplane rentals.
Notable people
Famous people born or raised in Como include:- Caecilius c. 59 BCE A poet, the subject of CatullusCatullusGaius Valerius Catullus was a Latin poet of the Republican period. His surviving works are still read widely, and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.-Biography:...
's Carmina 35, who had a girlfriend more learned than the Sapphic Muse. - Pliny the ElderPliny the ElderGaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
(Gaius Plinius Secundus; 23–79 CE), authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, natural philosopher and naval and military commander known for the Naturalis Historia. - Pliny the YoungerPliny the YoungerGaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo , better known as Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and educate him...
(Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus; 63–c.113 CE), a lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, an authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and a natural philosopher of Ancient RomeAncient RomeAncient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. - Paolo GiovioPaolo Gioviothumb|Paolo Giovio.thumb|Monument to Paolo Giovo by [[Francesco da Sangallo]], in [[San Lorenzo di Firenze|San Lorenzo]] Basilica, [[Florence]].Paolo Giovio was an Italian physician, historian and biographer, and prelate.He is chiefly known as the author of a celebrated work of...
(1483–1552), a physician, historian and biographer and particularly remembered as a chronicler of the Italian WarsItalian WarsThe Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
. - Benedetto Odescalchi (1611–1689) was Pope Innocent XI from 1676 until his death.
- Alessandro VoltaAlessandro VoltaCount Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta was a Lombard physicist known especially for the invention of the battery in 1800.-Early life and works:...
(1745–1827), a physicist known especially for the development of the batteryBattery (electricity)An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
in 1800. - Luigi BorgomainerioLuigi BorgomainerioLuigi Borgomainerio was an Italian engraver and caricaturist, who was active in the late 19th century.Born at Como in 1836, Borgomainerio was one of the cleverest caricaturists in the Spirito Folletto, and the founder of the Mefistofele...
(1836–1876), caricaturistCaricatureA caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be... - Cosima Liszt (1837–1930), Franz LisztFranz LisztFranz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
's daughter and Richard WagnerRichard WagnerWilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's wife. - Mario RadiceMario RadiceMario Radice was an Italian painter born in Como. He is considered to be an important Italian abstract artist.-Life and work:...
(1898–1987), abstract painter - Manlio RhoManlio RhoManlio Rho was a painter born in Como, Italy. He is considered one of the most important abstract artists in Italy.-Life and work:...
(1901–1957), abstract painter - Giuseppe TerragniGiuseppe TerragniGiuseppe Terragni was an Italian architect who worked primarily under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and pioneered the Italian modern movement under the rubric of Rationalism...
(1904–1943), an architect and pioneer of the Italian modern movement and rationalismRationalism (architecture)The intellectual principles of rationalism are based on architectural theory. Vitruvius had already established in his work De Architectura that architecture is a science that can be comprehended rationally. This formulation was taken up and further developed in the architectural treatises of the...
who designed Como’s Casa del FascioCasa del Fascio (Como)The Casa del Fascio is a building located in Como, northern Italy, a work of Italian rationalist architect Giuseppe Terragni.Started in 1932 and completed in 1936 under the regime of Benito Mussolini, this municipal administration building was originally constructed with a primary view of...
, a significant example of Fascist architectureFascist architectureRationalist-Fascist architecture was an Italian architectural style developed during the fascism regime and in particular starting from the late 1920s. It was promoted and practiced initially by the Gruppo 7 group, whose architects included Luigi Figini, Guido Frette, Sebastiano Larco, Gino...
in northern Italy. - Giorgio PerlascaGiorgio PerlascaGiorgio Perlasca was an Italian who posed as the Spanish consul-general to Hungary in the winter of 1944, and saved thousands of Jews from Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.-Early life:...
(1910–1992), posed as the Spanish consul-general to Hungary in the winter of 1944, and saved thousands of Jews from Nazi Germany and the Holocaust - Gabriele OrialiGabriele OrialiGabriele Oriali is a former football player from Italy, who mainly played defensive midfield but could also play as defender.-Playing career:...
(born 1952), 1982 Italian national team footballer World Champion. - Corrado Passera (born 1954), manager and banker, CEO of Intesa SanpaoloIntesa SanpaoloIntesa Sanpaolo is a banking group resulting from the merger between Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI based in Turin, Italy. It has clear leadership in the Italian market and a minor but growing international presence focused on Central-Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa Intesa Sanpaolo...
, Minister of Economic DevelopmentMinistry of Economic Development (Italy)The Ministry of Economic Development is a government ministry of the Republic of Italy. It deals with production, economic activities, energy and mineral resources, telecommunications, consumers, tourism, internationalisation and business incentives...
of the Monti CabinetMonti CabinetThe Monti cabinet is the incumbent cabinet of the government of Italy and was announced on 16 November 2011. The cabinet is composed of technocrats, three of whom are women. It includes 12 ministers with portfolio, and five without portfolio.-References:... - Max PapisMax PapisMassimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
(born 1969), Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
, Champ CarChamp CarChamp Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, and NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racingAuto racingAuto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver - Fabio CasartelliFabio CasartelliFabio Casartelli was an Italian cyclist and an Olympic gold medalist who died in a crash on the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet, France, during the 15th stage of the 1995 Tour de France.He was born in Como, Italy....
(1970–1995) Cyclist and olympic gold medalist - Diego De AscentisDiego De AscentisDiego De Ascentis is an Italian football midfielder, who is currently a free agent.-Career:He started his career at Como and moved to A.S. Bari and A.C. Milan ....
(born 1976), footballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder - Paola TagliabuePaola TagliabuePaola Tagliabue is an Italian world champion free-diver.Tagliabue belongs to Tresse Diving Club of Saronno and she is also a member of the Italian national team....
(born 1976), world champion free diverFree-divingFreediving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-hold underwater diving. Examples include breathhold spear fishing, freedive photography, apnea competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling...
in 2006. - Gianluca ZambrottaGianluca ZambrottaGianluca Zambrotta is a world cup winning Italian footballer who currently plays as a full back for Serie A club Milan.Zambrotta was decorated as Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2000 and he was made an Officer of the same order in 2006.-Como:Zambrotta began his...
(born 1977), an Italian international footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and World Champion in Germany 2006. - Floraleda SacchiFloraleda SacchiFloraleda Sacchi is an Italian harpist, composer and musicologist born in Como.-Biography:She studied music in Italy, United States and Canada, with Lisetta Rossi, Alice Giles, Judy Loman, Alice Chalifoux....
(born 1978), harpist and musicologist
These celebrities have lived in or owned properties in Como or on its lake :
- George ClooneyGeorge ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
- American actor - MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
- American pop singer - Gianni VersaceGianni VersaceGianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
- Italian fashion designer - Matt Bellamy - lead singer and guitar player of English rock band MuseMuseThe Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
- Ben SpiesBen SpiesBen Spies , also known as "Elbowz" due to his riding style where his elbows protrude outward, is a professional motorcycle road racer who turned pro in 2000...
- American professional motorcycle racer
Twin towns — Sister cities
Como is twinned with: FuldaFulda
Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district .- Early Middle Ages :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, since 1960 Tokamachi, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, since 1975 Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, since 1998 Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, since 2004 Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, since 2008
External links
- Official website
- Official Tourism Portal
- Historical picture gallery and slideshow
- Official Tourist Board website
- Teatro Sociale di Como official website
- Lake Como Navigation Company
- Como Tourism
- Official Virtual Tour
- Official iPhone and iPad Guide
- La Provincia Newspaper
- Sito ufficiale del Lago di Como