A Picture Gallery of Como
Just to prove that I’m not bitter about Italy beating England in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday, I thought it was about time I posted something about one of my favourite European countries.
Back in 2012 we spent a few days in Como, a city of around 84,000 people located 25 miles or so north of Milan. It lies at the southern tip of Lake Como’s south-western arm, and until the Chinese came back on the scene, the city and its surroundings had a thriving silk industry, but I wasn’t here to buy silk, I was here because we were using it as a base to explore the wonderful Lake Como.
The hills that rise above the western side of the lake are on the border with Switzerland, and were inhabited by the Celts long before the Romans arrived: In 59BC Julius Caesar drained the swampy ground on the shores of the lake and created the town of Novum Comum. The grid pattern that he used still forms the basic layout of the Old Town of Como today.
As interesting as the history of Como is, in this post I’ve decided to just create a gallery of images that I took while we were here, and the walled Old Town is where the gallery begins.
The Cathedral, which began construction in 1396, is probably the town’s most visited site, and a good place to start. The grid pattern made it easy to find our way around, and I particularly liked the area around the Romanesque church of San Fedele.
The lake of course will always drag you away from the Old Town at some point, and although the Passeggiata Amici di Como was having a makeover when we were here it didn’t stop us wandering around to the fountain at Villa Geno. The other side of the lake was my favourite though, where the Volta Gardens not only has some great views, but includes features such as the Volta Temple, a museum dedicated to the famous physicist and inventor, Alessandro Volta.
From the gardens you can also look across the lake and see the funicular that climbs steeply uphill to Brunate. At the top is a panoramic view of Como and its surroundings, but the view is spoiled somewhat by an isolated conifer tree. Normally, I don’t like to see trees cut down, but I would happily make an exception for this one, which is right next to the panorama viewing platform.
Anyway, I’ll shut up now and let the pictures do the talking. I hope you enjoy looking at them, as much as I enjoyed taking them.
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- St Vitale Tower, one of the Towers that still stand in the Town Wall
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- Piazza Duomo
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- The West Front of Como Cathedral
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- Detail from the West Front of the Cathedral
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- Looking through the Porta Torre into Largo Gianfranco Miglio
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- Via Giuseppe Rovelli
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- Basilica San Fedele
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- Piazza San Fedele
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- Lakeside Walk towards Villa Geno
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- Lake Como from the Eastern bank
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- The Villa Geno Fountain
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- Lake Como from the Volta Gardens
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- The Volta Temple
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- Looking towards the Brunate Funicular from the Volta Gardens
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- The Brunate Funicular
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- The Panoramic Viepoint – and Conifer Tree – at Brunate
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- Como from Brunate
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- Como Old Town from Brunate
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- Como Cathedral
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- Villa Olmo
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- Monument to the Fallen in the Volta Gardens
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- The Volta Temple at Night
POSTED – JULY 2021
Originally posted 2021-07-13 12:14:18.
We have frineds who go there a wee bit. They stay above the lake. But they love Como and I can see why.
Lovely post. We have friends who go there a fair bit, staying above the lake of course, but they love it. And i can see why.
It’s a beautiful area and the city of Como is well worth visiting.
They usually take a day there when they are there. It seems to be a favorite.
Your post and lovely photos sure bring back some wonderful memories! My first trip to Italy was for work in 2004. Along with some work colleagues, I visited Como (after staying in Bellagio) and had lunch there in a place overlooking the harbor. I remember wandering around the streets here and seeing some of the places your photos highlight (Basilica San Fedele, the funicular to Brunate, the Piazza Duomo)! Thanks for the memories, Malcolm!
It always makes my day when somebody says that a post brings back good memories Sylvia. Thank you 🙂
A lovely set of photos Malcolm! Although we’ve been to Italy a lot, so far we’ve not visited any of the lakes. I love the look of the old town and while I see what you mean about that conifer, it looks so quintessentially Italian that I rather like it 🙂
Thanks Sarah. For some reason I thought you had been to Como. I imagine that the tree has been left there for the reasons you’ve just mentioned – but who knows? 🙂
I like these collections of pictures Malc, they really do give a feel of a place. Como looks lovely, of course, and another city well worth exploring. Love the look of the cathedral and it’s intricately carved architectural details, and I could happily spend a few hours wending my way around those pretty streets, and of course stopping off for a while at the Piazza san Fedele! 🙂
Hi Alli, thanks for taking a look. I’m in the process of sorting out some pictures of Lake Como as we speak.. I’ve got so many to catch up on, and I hoped that it would be a good idea to post a selection of them in a gallery rather than just let them gather dust so to speak 🙂 I take it that you’re off up north on the weekend. The weather’s looking good at least.
Yes, we’re off to Northumberland on Saturday morning – at last. But there’ll be a quick unexpected blog post to come first, so hope you like it.
I’m really enjoying your gallery posts, probably because they’re always of interesting and picturesque places, and because they’re so good. They transport the viewer to another place, which has been very welcome this past year! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoy them Alli. Sometimes a picture does speak a thousand words, and sometimes it’s just nice to look at something without thinking.
More to the point. I’m intrigued about your forthcoming post. Is it connected to your university course by any chance?
Ah, I see your thinking, but sadly not as the result hasn’t come through yet. It’ll be another few weeks yet for that. It’s ctually something that’s come up because of Maddie. 😀
It still sounds intriguing 🙂
Hope you enjoy it. Should be out tonight. Last minute rush before heading north. 😀
🙂
Beautiful! Splendid photographs as usual Malc! Lovely indeed. Missed going there last time I went to Milan but I won’t miss Como next time, definitely worth a visit! Great narrative, informative, and quite interesting! All the best!
Thanks for your kind comments again Francesc. Como has an appeal of its own with good communications, as well as being a springboard to the lake. I think you would like it. I’m not too fond of Milan as a city if I’m being honest, but it does have some artisitc gems as you well know.
Some artistic gems it does have!
Lovely pictures, Malc. Glad you are so magnanimous.
Thanks Pat. I try to be. I was disappointed, but the people of Italy also deserved a lift.