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Things to see
- What to see in Como
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Como main information page)
Como is really a must for any architecture
enthusiast. The most famous landmark is the Duomo at the
Piazza Cavour with its gothic facade and renaissance dome. It is
connected to the ancient town hall of the city, the "Broletto".
Started at the end of the XVI century it was completed in the
XVIII, when the Baroque genius Juvarra added the cupola. The
church is reckoned to be Italy's best example of
Gothic-Renaissance fusion, Gothic in the fairy-tale pinnacles,
rose windows and buffoonish gargoyles, Renaissance in its
portals (with rounded rather than ogival arches) and in the
presence of the two pagans flanking the main west door, the
Elder and Younger Plinys, both of whom were born in Como.
Inside, the Gothic aisles are rich
Renaissance tapestries, a Leonardesque Madonna, an ?Adoration of
the Magi? by Luini, and a ?Flight to Egypt? by Gaudenzio
Ferrari.
In the walled Old Town, there are many
400-year-old buildings, and two more magnificent basilicas to be
admired, like the Church of San Fedele, a Romanesque
church erected in the 12th century and at the top of via Cant?
nearby the old walls most impressive standing tower, the
Porta Vittoria, the Romanesque Church of Sant'Abbondio
with its beautiful paintings dating to the XI century. Once
inside, the visitor wander down the serene aisles to the apse
with its colourful XIV-century frescoes, the most appealing of
which depicts the Magi dreaming of Christ under striped and
patterned blankets.
The ?Casa del Fascio?, possibly
Giuseppe Terragni's most famous work, described as an early
"landmark of modern European architecture and the ?Monumento
ai caduti? again by the Terragni, the Teatro Sociale
by Giuseppe Cusi, the expositions of Villa Olmo,
the small medieval castle Castello Baradello (climbing
its tower there is wonderful view of Lake Como) and
Museums like the Museo archeologico "P. Giovio" and
Museo Storico, the Tempio Voltiano, a museum devoted
to Alessandro Volta (inventor of a battery, the first reliable
source of electricity) built as a classic temple with marble
columns and mosaic floors and of course the Museo della Seta.
Beside this wonderful collection of
monuments, Lake Como remains the main attraction in the
region.
Of glacial origin, it has an area of 146 km?,
making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and
Lake Maggiore. At 410 m deep it is one of the deepest lakes in
Europe and the bottom of the lake is more than 200 m below
sea-level.
The towns of Como and Lecco sit at the ends
of the southwestern and southeastern branches respectively,
while the small towns of Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna are
situated at the intersection of the three branches of the lake:
a triangular boat service operates between them
Lake Como is indeed a stunning oasis, an
enchanting combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy
alpine peaks. One of the best places to enjoy panoramic views is
in Piazza Cavour, on the banks of the lake, in the town.
It has been popular as a resort since the
days of the Roman Empire. Visitors ever since have admired the
blue waters and relaxed in luxurious villas in the wooded
lakeside slopes above. Today, most of the towns around the
shores of Lake Como are popular with tourists, walkers, cyclists
and swimmers.
Around Como?s region:
A
short drive from
Como is Menaggio, situated halfway up Lake Como, on the
western shore with plenty of hiking possibilities in the
surrounding area.
The lovely town of
Cernobbio,
hosts delightful picturesque houses and narrow alleys plus one
of the grandest hotels in Europe, the Villa D?Este.
To the north is Lake Como?s only island,
Isola Comacina, where every June there is a costumed
procession from the ruins of San Eufemia.
At Tremezzo, another lakeside town,
there is a lakeside promenade, as well as many wonderful old
villas. Varenna is considered the most beautiful town on
the lake with its charming homes, flowering balconies and
lace-curtained windows. Walking near Varenna, in under an hour,
there is a ruined mediaeval castle perched right above the
settlement contouring through woods and an olive grove, to the
shortest river in Italy, Fiumelatte,. From there you can also
walk on, Bellaggio, on the southern shore of the lake, is
known also as ?la perla del lago? (the pearl of the lake).
Several buses a day run from Menaggio to
Lugano and from Menaggio up to the modern hill village of
Breglia. From Breglia a well-signposted and popular route
climbs up to Rifugio Menaggio in under two hours, for
fine views of the lake.
Not to miss a vertical walk of about two
hours to Sasso San Martino, a high and woody shoulder
overlooking the lake. From there you can either hike down a
little alpine track to the lakeshore up to the domed summit of
Monte di Tremezzo (1700 metres).
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