Como

 

(kō'mō) , city (1991 pop. 87,059), capital of Como prov., Lombardy, N Italy, at the southwest end of Lake Como, near the Swiss border. It is an important tourist center and is noted for its silk industry. Originally a Roman colony, Como became an independent commune in the 11th cent. and was frequently at war with, and ruled by, Milan. It later came under Spanish and Austrian control and was liberated by Garibaldi in 1859. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, artisans, architects, and sculptors from Como (the maestri comacini) were renowned throughout Italy. The city has a remarkable marble cathedral (14th–18th cent.), a 13th-century city hall, and several Romanesque churches.

Comune di Como
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Lombardy
Province	Como (CO)
Mayor	Stefano Bruni (since 2002-05-28)
Elevation	m ( ft)
Area	km² ( sq mi)
Population (as of December 31, 2004)
- Total
- Density	/km² (/sq mi)
Time zone	CET, [[UTC+1]]
Coordinates	45°49′N, 09°05′E
Gentilic	Comaschi
Dialing code	031
Postal code	22100
Frazioni	Ponte Chiasso, Garzola, Sagnino, Monteolimpino, Tavernola, Camnago Volta, Lora, Prestino, Breccia, Rebbio, Civiglio, Muggió, Albate
Patron	Saint Abbondio
- Day	August 31
Website: www.comune.como.it

Como (Comm in the local dialect of Lombard language) is a city in Lombardy, Italy, 45 km north of Milan. Situated at the southern tip of the south-west arm of Lake Como, it is the capital of the province of Como.

History

The hills surrounding the current location of Como were inhabited in prehistoric times, at least since the Bronze Age. Remains of settlements are still present on the wood covered hills to the South West of town. The people that inhabited these settlements were known as the Orobii, a Celtic tribe.

Around the 1st century BC the territory became subjected to the Romans. The first 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 grid of perpendicular streets. The newly founded town was named Novum Comum and had the status of municipium.

In 774 the town surrendered to the invasion of the Franks led by Charlemagne, and it became a center of commercial exchange.

In 1127 Como lost the decade-long war against 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 remains, the Baradello.

From then on the history of Como followed that of the Ducato di Milano, through the French invasion, then 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, Mussolini was taken prisoner and then shot by Comaschi partisans in Giulino di Mezzegra, a small town on the north shores of Como Lake.

As a curiosity, the Rockefeller fountain that today stands in the Bronx Zoo in New York City was once in the main square by the lakeside. It was bought by William Rockefeller in 1902.

Main sights

Churches

• Duomo (cathedral), begun in 1396 on the site of the previous Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The façade was built in 1457, with the notable rose window and a portal flanked by two Renaissance statues of the famous Comaschi, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. The construction was finished in 1740. The interior is on the Latin cross plan, with Gothic nave and two aisles divided by pilasters, 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 notable rococo structure by Filippo Juvarra. Other artworks include 16th-17th centuries tapestries and 16th century paintings by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari.
• San Fedele, a Romanesque church erected around 1120 over a pre-existing central plan edifice. The contemporary 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, but largely renovated in the 20th century. The interior and the annexed cloister have frescoes from the 15th-17th centuries, but most of the decoration comes from the Baroque era.
• The Romanesque basilica of Sant'Abbondio, consecrated in 1095 by Pope Urban II. The interior, with a nave and four aisles, contains beautiful 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 Mercury to house the remains of St. Carpophorus and other local martyrs.

Public edifices and other sights

• Broletto (ancient Town Hall)
• Casa del Fascio, possibly Giuseppe Terragni's most famous work. It has been described as an early "landmark of modern European architecture".
• Monumento ai caduti (by Giuseppe Terragni)
• Teatro Sociale (by Giuseppe Cusi)
• Villa Olmo, built from 1797 in neoclassicist style by the Odescalchi family. It housed Napoleon Bonaparte, Ugo Foscolo, Metternich, Emperor Francis Ferdinand I, Giuseppe Garibaldi and other eminent figures. It is now seat of exhibitions.
• Villa Melzi (1808-1810), with a magnificent panorama over the Lake. It has a famous giardino all'Italiana. According to tradition, Franz Liszt composed here some of his most famous piano sonatas.
• Villa Carlotta (c. 1690). It has an English-style park, and a collection of marbles by Canova, reliefs by Thorvaldsen and others.
• Ancient walls (medieval)
• Castello Baradello, a small medieval castle.

Museums

• Musei Civici
• Museo archeologico "P. Giovio"
• Museo Storico
• Pinacoteca
• Tempio Voltiano, a museum devoted to Alessandro Volta's work.
• Museo della Seta
• Museo Liceo classico "A. Volta"
• Villa Olmo (expositions)

Notable Comaschi

Famous people associated with Como include:

• Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus; 23–79 CE), author, natural philosopher and naval and military commander known for the Naturalis Historia.
• Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus; 63–c.113 CE), a lawyer, an author and a natural philosopher of Ancient Rome.

• Benedetto Odescalchi (1611–1689) was Pope Innocent XI from 1676 until his death.
• Paolo Giovio (1483–1552), a physician, historian and biographer and particularly remembered as a chronicler of the Italian Wars.
• Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), a physicist known especially for the development of the electric battery in 1800.
• Giuseppe Terragni (1904–1943), an architect and pioneer of the Italian modern movement who designed Como’s Casa del Fascio, a significant example of Fascist architecture in northern Italy.
• Gabriele Oriali (born 1952), 1982 Italian national team footballer World Champion.
• Gianluca Zambrotta (born 1977), an Italian international footballer.
• Floraleda Sacchi (born 1978), harpist and musicologist

Economy

The economy of Como was traditionally based on industry - the city was world famous for its silk manufacturers. In recent years tourism has become increasingly important. Many celebrities have homes on the shores of Lake Como, for example Matthew Bellamy, Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace, and Sylvester Stallone. This has considerably heightened Como's international profile.

University

• Università degli studi dell'Insubria - polo di Como ([1]) - Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and other courses
• Politecnico di Milano - polo di Como ([2]) - Environmental, Computer and Management Engineering courses

Transportation

Trains

The Servizio Ferroviario Regionale connects Como by train to other major cities in Lombardy (R lines). Services are provided by Trenitalia (a.k.a. Ferrovie dello Stato: FS) (website) and LeNORD (website) through two main stations: Como S. 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). A trip to Milan costs 3.50€. From 2008 Como will also be connected to Milan with the line S9 of the Servizio Ferroviario Suburbano (S).

Local transport

The local public transport network counts 10 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 SPTLinea (website).

Urban Lines
Line 1: Chiasso FS - S.Fermo
Line 3: Lora - Grandate
Line 4: S.Giovanni FS - Camnago V.
Line 5: S.Giovanni FS - Civiglio
Line 6: Maslianico - Albate
Line 7: Sagnino - Lora
Line 8: S.Giovanni FS - Casnate
Line 9: P.za Cavour - Cimitero
Line 10: Albate - Navedano
Line 11: P.Chiasso - Bassone
Line 12: Camerlata-S.Fermo-Tavernola

Urban bus tickets have to be bought before boarding the bus in newsstands or bars, a ticket for a single ride costs 1€, while a ticket for 75 minutes costs 1.05€.

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.

The funicolare (funicular) connects the center of Como with Brunate, a small village (1800 inhabitants) on a mountain at 715 meters above sea level. The journey takes about 7 minutes and the view is worth the trip: it can also be the starting point for a stroll on the mountains.

The boats and 'aliscafi' of Navigazione Lago di Como connect the town with most of the villages sitting on the shores of the lake, the former are slower and right for sightseeing, the latter are faster and make less stops.

A taxi service is provided by the Comune di Como.

Airports

The nearest airports are Milano Malpensa and Lugano Agno. Milano Malpensa can be reached in about 1 hour either by bus (line C250) or by train (LeNORD for 8.10€), with interchange in Saronno. Other airports in the area include Milano Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio. Both can be reached with shuttle buses from the Stazione Centrale in Milan, the former is also served by trams of the public transport system of Milan.

External links

• Official homepage Comune di Como (Italian/English)
• Additional information on Villa Olmo in Como (English)

Lake Como (Lago di Como, Lario)
Italy   Lombardy (Province of Como · Province of Lecco)
Settlements	Abbadia Lariana · Argegno · Bellagio · Bellano · Blevio · Brienno · Carate Urio · Cernobbio · Colico · Colonno · Como · Consiglio di Rumo · Cremia · Dervio · Domaso · Dongo · Dorio · Faggeto Lario · Gera Lario · Giulino di Mezzegra · Gravedona · Griante · Laglio · Lecco · Lenno · Lezzeno · Lierna · Malgrate · Mandello del Lario · Menaggio · Mezzegra · Moltrasio · Musso · Nesso · Oliveto Lario · Ossuccio · Perledo · Pianello del Lario · Pognana Lario · Sala Comacina · San Siro · Sant'Abbondio · Santa Maria Rezzonico · Sorico · Torno · Tremezzo · Valbrona · Valmadrera · Varenna · Vercana
Islands	Isola Comacina
Rivers	Adda · Albano · Breggia · Fiumelatte · Gera · Liro · Livo · Mera · Meria · Pioverna · Telo · Varrone
Valleys	Valsassina
Mountains	Monte Generoso · Grigne
Landmarks	Villa del Balbianello · Villa Carlotta · Priorato di Piona · Sacro Monte di Ossuccio
Films	Piccolo mondo antico
People	Adeliza de Borgomanero
Category:Lakes of Italy

Lombardy · Comuni of the Province of Como
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