|
Events and
Festivals in Como
(Back to
Como main information page)
March:
Fiera di Marzo -
fair of merchandise and animals, with
numerous street stalls along the eastern bank of the fork of
lake Como. City: Nesso
Bonfire Competition
(Palio dei Falo) - this tradition goes back to 1120 when Lezzeno
(back then called Leucini) was sacked and set ablaze by the
natives of Como. Other historians claim that the palio is in
memory of the fires where numerous witches of the time were
burned. The city neighborhoods organize themselves into groups
that compete to build the biggest, the most beautiful and the
most unusual bonfire. The spectacle creates fantastic special
effects on the banks of the lake, where bonfires with flames up
to 20 meters high reflect off the still sheet of water. City:
Lezzeno
May:
Competition of the lucie,
flowered boats on the river Lario, in Lezzeno
near Como.
The Green Asparagus Festival (Feste
dell'Asparago Verde), a spring festival devoted entirely to the
woody-stemmed, tender-tipped vegetable that is a favorite in
Italian cuisine. There is live music, a market, stalls and every
type of imaginable preparation of the phallic stalks. City:
Tremezzo
Antique and flea market,
exhibitors gather in the Piazza Portici dei Torchio from nine in
the morning to seven at night. Specialities include silver,
jewelry and books. City: Carimate
June:
The Sagra di San Giovanni,
the
oldest historical event to take place on lake Como
is celebrated the last weekend of June in the town of Como with
folk arts and fireworks and in Ossuccio with a festival, boat
procession, and boat race.
Gigantic fish-fry
with all the fried fish you can stuff in your pie hole. City:
Menaggio
Costumed Parade
along the streets full of colored linen and silky decorations.
Date: Corpus Domini which is which falls 60
days after Easter. City: Premana
July:
Festa del lago.
This is a historical commemoration of a horrific event that took
place in 1169, when a boat full of exiles coming from the
Comacina Isle, was set on fire by the Como citizens supported by
the Barbarossa. City: Varenna
Traditional local and Lombardian costume
exhibition. City: Consiglio di Rumo
August:
Cave Festival
- the grottoes are the natural cavities formed by the piling up
of enormous boulders that have broken away from the sides of the
mountains in prehistoric times. Between the narrow openings of
these masses there is a constant current of air which remains at
about 50 degrees Fahrenheit which makes them the ideal place to
season food products. But the grotto is also a place where
people can converse, eat, drink and sing in comfort. During the
course of this festival these caves are open to the public, who
can taste excellent wines and local delicacies while being
sheltered from the torrid August heat. City: Stazzona
Gnocchi festival
with enough of this delicious potato pastry to stuff an army,
plus grilled meat and local wine. City: Pognara Lario
Polenta and fish festival.
City: Varenna
Ancient gondola's competition
between Lecco, Varenna and Bellagio. City: Lake Como
September:
The Palio del Baradello,
a historical re-enactment, Medieval Games and Pageant, is the
first week of September. City: Como
Palio Remiero del Lario,
a traditional rowing race. City: Como
December:
International All-Breed Dog Show
- over 2,000 entrants from all parts of the world overrun this
sleepy little hill town near Como. City: Erba
Celebration of Saint Ambrogio
- religious, musical, theatrical and gastronomic delights in the
traditions of folklore, and in which schoolchildren play a major
part. City: Lierna
January:
S. Antonio Abate
- this day is celebrated with festivities, food, music and a
raging bonfire. City: in the towns of: Erba, Esino Lario and
Perledo
Celebration of the Songs of the Blackbird
('La Meerla' - meaning blackbird in Cremonese dialect) - this is
a celebration rooted deeply in local Cemona ritual which
celebrates the departure of winter. All four nights are filled
with outdoor celebrations that center around a bonfire of
immense proportion and accompanied by ample food and drink.
City: Mandello del Lario
La Giubiana
- a celebration of winters departure by merriment, dance, drink
and giant servings of rice (risotto). A witch (La Giubiana) is
burned in effigy on a bonfire. City: Barzago and Varenna
There are music festivals around the lake in
spring and fall, gastronomic festivals in fall, and drama from
January - April.
(Back to
Como main information page) |
