Its prime location on the southwestern branch ofLake Como and its proximity to theAlps has made Como a popular destination for tourists. The city boasts a rich collection of art, religious sites, verdant gardens, museums, theatres, public parks, and opulent palaces, including the iconicDuomo, seat of theDiocese of Como; theBasilica of Sant'Abbondio;Villa Olmo; the public gardens with theTempio Voltiano; the Teatro Sociale; theBroletto, the city's medieval town hall; and the 20th-centuryCasa del Fascio, a landmark of modernist architecture.[7]
The hills surrounding the current location of Como were inhabited, since at least theIron Age, by aCeltic tribe known as theOrobii, who also, according toPliny the Elder and modern scholars, had relations with theAncient Ligurians,[11][12] a people very similar to the Celts. Remains of settlements are still present on the wood-covered hills to the southwest of town, around the area of the modern town's district of Rebbio. In the areas of the districts of Breccia, Prestino and the neighbouring towns ofSan Fermo della Battaglia andCavallasca there were also settlements of theGolasecca Culture,[13] built in the Iron Age. Later, a second Celtic migration brought the Gaulish peoples in the area of Como, especially the tribe of theInsubres.[14]
Around the first century BC, the territory became subject to theRomans. The town centre was situated on the nearby hills, but it was then moved to its current location by order ofJulius 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 namedNovum Comum and had the status ofmunicipium. In September 2018,Culture MinisterAlberto Bonisoli announced the discovery of several hundredgold coins in the basement of the formerCressoni Theater (Teatro Cressoni) in a two-handledsoapstoneamphora, coins struck byemperorsHonorius,Valentinian III,Leo I the Thracian,Antonio andLibius Severus dating to 474 AD.[15]
TheCommune of Como likely originated in the11th century as an "association of prestigious families on a treaty basis," bound by an oath of adhesion to the commune, which was renewed periodically in front of municipal authorities until the 1200s, and later in the presence of the mayor. Despite resistance from parts of the feudal nobility of thediocese, this pact quickly extended to the entire free male population of the town. This expansion aimed to strengthen the political independence of Como and its diocese, especially from neighboringMilan, and to affirm the sovereignty of thebishop of Como. The bishop soon became the de facto "head of state", while an assembly of citizens convened in the "Broletto" (Town Hall), called "Brolo". This assembly consisted of representatives of the local nobility, known as consuls, and later included representatives of theguilds. The Commune had a set of laws and conventions that regulated urban activities,commerce,agriculture,fishing,hunting,law enforcement, andtaxation.[18]
The first explicit written mention of the Commune of Como dates back to 1109. Initially, the deliberative assembly of the commune was likely theplenary assembly. In the early12th century, the role of this assembly was assumed by the council (or "Credenza"), known after 1213 as the "General council" or "Bell council". From the second half of the 13th century, this assembly was divided into a large and a small council. Starting in 1109, the communal organization included an executive body called the "collegial magistracy of the consuls". Before 1172, this body was divided into two institutions: the consuls of justice and the consuls of the municipality. In the early 13th century, the latter were replaced by thepodestà, who had broader special powers in criminal matters.[19]
During this period of growth, Como and Milan quickly became rivals. TheCommune of Milan experienced significant population growth but lacked strategic communication routes.[23] Consequently, Milan planned to conquer neighboring territories to gain access to their strategic positions. Tensions first arose over theCounty of Seprio, as both communes sought control of the area.[23] Meanwhile, Milan acted aggressively against other Lombard towns, leading to the outbreak of thewar of Lodi when soldiers fromLodi,Pavia, andCremona attackedTortona, an ally of Milan. In this conflict, Milan, supported by Crema and Tortona, fought against the communes of Lodi, Pavia, and Cremona, ultimately achieving a significant victory that established Milan as the dominant power in Lombardy.[24][25]
This left the Commune of Como as Milan's only remaining rival. Tensions escalated when EmperorHenry IV appointed Landolfo da Carcano, who sympathized with Milan, as the bishop of Como. In response, the people of Como electedGuido Grimoldi as their bishop and exiled Landolfo. Despite his exile, Landolfo continued to interfere in Como's affairs, prompting the town to besiege his castle under the leadership of consulAdamo del Pero. Landolfo was captured and imprisoned, igniting a crisis between Como and Milan, as Milanese soldiers had defended Landolfo's castle.
This conflict led to theDecennial War between Como and Milan in 1118. The war is well-documented thanks to an anonymous poet who recorded the events in a poem titled "Liber Cumanus, sive de bello Mediolanensium adversus Comenses".[23] Initially, Como seemed to prevail due to smart tactics, but after the death of Guido Grimoldi, the tide turned, and Como lost the war in 1127. Milanese soldiers destroyed every building in Como, sparing only the churches.[26]
After the war, the Commune was forced to pay tribute to Milan.[27] However, this changed whenFrederick Barbarossa came to power and restored Como's independence from Milan. The Comaschi avenged their defeat when Milan was destroyed in 1162. Frederick promoted the construction of several defensive towers and small castles around the town's limits, of which only theBaradello remains. He also assisted the town in rebuilding its defensive walls, most of which still survive today.
When theGuelph communes organized theLombard League to oppose the Holy Roman Emperor, Como maintained its Ghibelline alignment. Frederick I Barbarossa formally recognized the Commune of Como with an imperial diploma in 1175 (Concession of Frederick I 1175), allowing the town to elect the mayors of the county. This was a reward for Como's defection from the Lombard League and its shared anti-Milan policy. Subsequent agreements in 1191 and 1216 saw EmperorsHenry VI andFrederick II extend additional concessions to Como, similar to those made in thePeace of Constance to the cities participating in the League.
In 1281, Como adopted its first written legislative code, the "Statuta Consulum Iustitie et Negotiatorum", followed by a second code in 1296.[28]
In the second half of the 12th century, the Rusca family (also known as Rusconi) began to gain prominence in the town of Como. The Rusca were a noble family originating in Como in the 10th century. They led theGhibelline faction in the town, with their principal rivals being the members of theVitani family.
In 1182, Giovanni Rusca became a consul of the commune and was later appointedpodestà of Milan in 1199, thanks to his abilities during a peace treaty with the rival city. Between 1194 and 1198, he was joined by two other relatives, Adamo and Loterio, who also became consuls of Como. The Rusca quickly became the most influential family in Como, with several members attempting to establish alordship over the town with varying degrees of success.[29]
Loterio Rusca was the first to attempt this goal. He was acclaimed "Lord of the People" in 1276 and, with the trust of the Comaschi, he began his rise to power. However, he faced resistance from the bishop of Como,Giovanni degli Avvocati, who was consequently exiled. Giovanni was hosted by theVisconti of Milan, providingOttone Visconti with a pretext to start a new war against Como. Unexpectedly, Loterio prevailed and signed a favorable peace treaty with Milan in the town ofLomazzo. Milan was forced to recognize Loterio as the ruler of their rival town and return the town ofBellinzona to Como.[29]
Thanks to this success, the family secured titles such as Lords of Como, Bellinzona,Chiavenna, andValtellina, as well as Counts ofLocarno,Lugano, andLuino. Following Loterio's death, the next notable family member wasFranchino I Rusca, who established a personal lordship over Como and its territories and became animperial vicar.
In 1335, a new war between Como and Milan broke out due to the expiration of conditions established in Lomazzo. This time, under the leadership ofAzzone Visconti, Milan won the war and Como was annexed to theDuchy of Milan. The people of Como sought to regain their administrative freedom, and an opportunity arose in 1402 whenGian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, died.Franchino II Rusca led a rebellion against the Milanese, which ended in 1412 when his son,Loterio IV Rusca, gained the title of Lord of Como and drove out the Milanese occupiers. However, this did not end the political unrest, and a period of conflicts and massacres ensued until Como once again fell under the control ofFilippo Maria Visconti, becoming part of the Duchy of Milan in 1416.
At the Duke's death, Como reclaimed its independence, and in 1447, the "Republic of Saint Abundius" was founded.[29][30] In January 1449,Francesco Sforza, who claimed the title of Duke of Milan (though the city was under the control of theAmbrosian Republic), sentGiuseppe Ventimiglia to attack Como. He was repelled by the citizens led byGiovanni della Noce, forcing him to retreat toCantù, inBrianza.Monzone assisted the Rusca against the Vitani, who were Guelphs allied with the Milanese, ultimately defeating them with Ghibelline forces. In April 1449, Ventimiglia attacked Como again, and in January 1450, he unsuccessfully attacked the Ambrosian garrisons inMonza, intended to reunite with theVenetians ofColleoni to support Milan against Sforza. These events, known as the Battles of Cantù andAsso, culminated in March 1450 when Como was defeated following the fall of the Ambrosian Republic, due to exhaustion and lack of resources. Como was definitively subjected to the reconstituted Duchy of Milan under Francesco Sforza, who in 1458 profoundly reformed the Statutes of Como.[29]
Subsequently, the history of Como followed that of theDuchy of Milan, 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 theCongress of Vienna. By 1848, the population had reached 16,000.[31] In 1859, with the arrival ofGiuseppe Garibaldi, the town became part of the newly formedKingdom of Italy under theHouse of Savoy.
The Rockefeller fountain that today stands in theBronx Zoo in New York City was once in the main square (PiazzaCavour) by the lakeside. It was bought byWilliam Rockefeller in 1902 forLire 3,500 (the estimated equivalent then of $637).[32]
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 inGiulino di Mezzegra, a small town on the north shores ofLake Como.
Como is strategically located at the southern end of the southwestern arm of Lake Como, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Milan. The city shares borders withSwitzerland, specifically the Swisscommunes ofChiasso andVacallo, and the Italiancomune ofBlevio,Brunate, and several others. Major nearby cities includeVarese,Lecco, andLugano.
The lakefront of ComoComo Main Town buildings decorated with a light show in December 2017
According to theKöppen climate classification, Como experiences ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa). Historically, winters were colder with average daily temperatures often below freezing.[36] While occasional frosts from theSiberian Anticyclone still occur,global warming has led to a gradual increase in average winter temperatures since the start of the 21st century, with a record high of 21 degrees Celsius (70 °F) recorded on January 27, 2024.[37][38] Spring and autumn are generally mild and pleasant, while summers can be hot and humid. Strong winds are rare, though suddenfoehn winds can occur. Air pollution can be a concern in winter due tocold air trapping pollutants. Rainfall is more frequent in spring, while summers are prone to thunderstorms and occasional violenthailstorms.[39]
The legislative body of Como is the City Council (Consiglio Comunale), composed of 32 councillors elected every five years through a proportional system, coinciding with the mayoral elections. The executive branch is the City Committee (Giunta Comunale), comprising 9assessori (city ministers), each overseeing a specific department. Theassessori are nominated and presided over by the directly elected Mayor (Sindaco). Since June 27, 2022, Alessandro Rapinese, an independent candidate leading the "Rapinese Sindaco" alliance, has served as the Mayor of Como.
Duomo (Cathedral) The park of Villa Olmo and the Cathedral
Como Cathedral: Construction began in 1396 on the site of the previousRomanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The façade was built in 1457, with the characteristicrose window and a portal flanked by two Renaissance statues of the famouscomaschiPliny the Elder andPliny the Younger. The construction was finished in 1740. The interior is on theLatin cross plan, withGothic 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 byGiuseppe Arcimboldi. The dome is arococo structure byFilippo Juvarra. Other artworks include 16th–17th-century tapestries and 16th-century paintings byBernardino Luini andGaudenzio Ferrari.
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 theCistercians 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 isBaroque.
Basilica of Sant'Abbondio, a Romanesque structure consecrated in 1095 byPope 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 GodMercury to house the remains ofSaint Carpophorus and other local martyrs.
Cathedral as seen at night during the light festival of Como in December 2017
Monumental Fountain also known as "Volta's Fountain", a monument to Volta's battery; it was designed by architectCarlo Cattaneo and painterMario Radice and is a 9 m-high (30 ft) cement combination of alternating spheres and rings. It is in the centre of Camerlata Square.
Castello Baradello, a small medieval castle overlooking the town and which is all that remains of the fortress constructed byBarbarossac. 1158
The church of San Fedele, apse areaThe NeoclassicalEnglish landscape gardens ofVilla OlmoVilla Geno and fountain from ferry on the lakeTheTempio Voltiano (Volta Temple), a museum dedicated to the memory of Alessandro Volta
Historically, Como's economy was heavily reliant on industry, particularly its world-renowned silk production. In the early 1970s, Como's silk output surpassed that of China and Japan, establishing it as a global silk manufacturing hub.[43][44] However, increased competition from Asian producers since the mid-1990s significantly reduced profit margins, leading to the closure of many small and medium-sized silk firms. As a result, manufacturing is no longer the dominant economic force. Como has become increasingly integrated into theMilan metropolitan area, with a significant portion of its workforce employed in theservice industry. Many residents also commute to Swiss towns like Lugano and Mendrisio for employment in industry, healthcare, and hospitality, attracted by higher wages in Switzerland despite the daily commute.[45]
Since the late 1990s, tourism has become increasingly vital to Como's economy. Local businesses have shifted towards catering to tourists, with a proliferation of bars, restaurants, and hotels. In 2023, Como welcomed approximately 400,000 overnight visitors, establishing itself as a leading tourist destination in Lombardy.[46] The city and Lake Como's popularity as filming locations for feature films, along with celebrity residents, has further boosted international tourism, making Como a sought-after destination since the early 2000s.[47]
Como's population grew steadily, reaching a peak of nearly 100,000 in the 1970s, coinciding with the peak of its manufacturing sector, particularly silk production. However, with the decline of manufacturing, the population decreased by approximately 20,000 until the early 21st century. Since then, the city's population has grown again, adding over six thousand residents, largely due to increased immigration from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa. As of January 2023, the population was 83,700, with 12,000 (14%) being resident aliens. The population distribution by origin is as follows:[48]
Polenta is a popular dish in Como, and was traditionally eaten for meals in wintertime. It is obtained by mixing and cooking corn flour andbuckwheat. 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 typical plate ofpolenta (here depicted with rabbit), a very common and traditional dish of the region
A traditional dish is theRisotto con Filetti di Pesce Persico or simplyRisotto al Pesce Persico (European perch filetrisotto), a fish grown in Lake Como, prepared with white wine, onion, butter and wheat.[49]
In Como, a medieval festival calledPalio del Baradello takes place annually.[50]
The first edition took place in 1981.[51] The event is organized every year to narrate to the citizens and tourists the events that happened in 1159 when the town hosted the Holy Roman EmperorFrederick Barbarossa and aided him in his fight against the rebel communes inLombardy. The Emperor restored Como's former freedom, which was lost in a ten-year-long war against Milan. Together, theGhibelline communes and the emperor defeatedMilan.
During the Palio del Baradello, the town is divided into its historical wards called "Borghi" (inLombard: "Burgh"[52]) Tavernola,[53] Quarcino,[54] Rebbio, Camerlata,[55]Cernobbio,[56] Cortesella[57] and Sant'Agostino.[58] The first day hosts the opening ceremony while in the following days the factions compete in different races to determine which district will win the year's edition.[59]
The final day of the festival consists of a grand parade where all the participants march across the town in medieval costumes, accompanied by animals, wagons, and replicas ofsiege engines, culminating in a ceremony where the emperor announces to the public which ward won the competition.
People dressed in medieval clothingLast day parade of the Medieval festival
Theheraldic achievement of Como consists of a white cross on a red background. This symbol was used in the Middle Ages to represent the town's political faction, theGhibellines. The first recorded mention of this emblem dates back to thedecennial war between Como and Milan (1118–1127). An anonymous poet from Como described the coat of arms in his poem about the war as "rubra signa" (Latin: "red symbol") and "cum cruce alba" (Latin: "with a white cross").[60]
Later, the motto 'LIBERTAS' (Latin: 'Freedom') was added to the town's heraldic achievement. The oldest testament of this symbol comes from the year 1619 when the historianFrancesco Ballarini wrote that the people of Como at the time were already using the motto in the town's coat of arms.[60] It is thought that this motto emerged when the town of Como was liberated from the Milanese occupation with the help of the Holy Roman emperorFrederick I Barbarossa. The motto was later censored when the town was conquered by theVisconti family in the 15th Century. It was restored when the town proclaimed its independence from theLordship of Milan, but censored again asMilan regained control over Como. The motto was restored one last time after theunification of Italy, as otherwise the town's coat of arms would have been too similar to the arms of theHouse of Savoy, which were included in the heraldic achievement of the newly bornKingdom of Italy.
Curiously, the coat of arms of Como is often represented with a curvature and surrounded by floral elements. The crown is another important element of the heraldic achievement. A crown appeared in the coats of arms of Como reported on some municipal posters in 1796. On 9 November 1819,Francis I of Austria, Emperor of theAustria, recognized Como as a "Royal Town": that is when the crown (five-pointed and studded with gems) officially entered the coat of arms. In the version that came in 1859, the crown is topped with six gold fleurs-de-lis (only the front three visible).[60]
Throughout history, Como has used the Cross of Saint John as its flag: a white cross over a red field. Around the 12th Century, the city started to fly a version of this banner that included the word "LIBERTAS" in the bottom right corner, as represented in the town'sheraldic achievement. This flag can be seen displayed at the town hall (Palazzo Cernezzi).
The Servizio Ferroviario Regionale (Regional Railway Service) connects Como by train to other major cities in Lombardy. Services are provided byTrenord through two main stations:Como San Giovanni andComo Nord Lago. There are five more urban stations (Albate-Camerlata, Albate-Trecallo, Como Borghi, Como Camerlata and Grandate-Breccia).
Como San Giovanni is also a stop on the main north–south line between Milan Centrale andZürich HB andBasel SBB. Intercity andEuroCity trains stop at this station, which makes Como very accessible from the European Express train network.
The local public transport network comprises 11 urban (within city limits) lines and 'extra-urban' (crossing city limits) (C) lines connecting Como with most of its province centres. They are provided byASF Autolinee.
Ferrovie Nord Milano also provides other bus lines connecting Como toVarese in substitution of the original railway line that was dismissed in the 1960s.
Taxi service is provided by the Municipality of Como.
Como is home to the oldest seaplane operation in the world,[62] theAero Club Como (ICAO code LILY),[63] with a fleet consisting of four seaplanes, used for flight training and local tour flights and four classic seaplanes of historical interest, a 1961Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, a 1946Republic RC-3 Seabee a 1947Macchi M.B.308idro and a perfectly restored 1935Caproni Ca.100.[64][65] A hangar right next to the lake houses the club's fleet and is also used for aircraft maintenance and servicing.
Como hosts numerous high schools, the "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory of Music, the "Aldo Galli" Design School, theUniversity of Insubria, and a campus of thePolitecnico di Milano.
Como's sporting scene includes clubs such as theASDG Comense 1872 women's basketball team, a two-time EuroLeague Women champion, andComo 1907 football club. Lake Como offers numerous recreational activities, including sailing, windsurfing, and the annualCittà di Como Challenger tennis tournament.
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^"Alessandro Volta". Corrosion-doctors.org.Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved21 June 2011.
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^Peron, Ettore Maria (July 2017).Storia di Como [History of Como] (First ed.). Pordenone: Edizioni Biblioteca dell'Immagine (published 2017). p. 7.ISBN9788863912685.
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^Bergamaschi, Mario (January 2013).Il Cumano Cronaca della guerra decennale tra Como e Millano 1118-1127 [The Cumano, Cronicles of the 10-Years War between Como and Milan 1118-1127] (in Italian). Alessandro Dominioni Editore. pp. 29–36.ISBN9788887867459.
^Bergamaschi, Mario (January 2013).Il Cumano Cronaca della Guerra Decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 [The Cumano, cronicle of the 10-Years War between Como and Milan 1118-1127]. Gorgonzola: Alessandro Dominioni Editore. pp. 15–19.ISBN9788887867459.
^abcBergamaschi, Mario (January 2013).Il Cumano Cronoca della guerre decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 [The Cumano, Cronicles of the decennial war between Como and Milan 1118-1127] (in Italian). Alessandro Dominioni Editore. pp. 51–63.ISBN9788887867459.
^Corio, Bernardino (1855).Storia di Milano [History of Milan] (in Italian). Milan: Francesco Colombo. p. 127.
^Giulini, Giorgio (1855).Memorie spettanti alla storia, al governo ed alla descrizione della città, e della campagna di Milano, ne'secoli bassi [Memories relating to the history, government and description of the city and countryside of Milan in the early centuries] (in Italian) (3rd ed.). Milan: Francesco Colombo Librajo. pp. 3–25.
^Bergamaschi, Mario (January 2013).Il Cumano Cronaca della guerra decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 [The Cumano, Cronicle of the 10-Years War between Como and Milan 1118-1127] (in Italian). Alessandro Dominioni Editore. pp. 63–152.ISBN9788887867459.
^Bergamaschi, Mario (2013).Il Cumano. Cronaca della guerra decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 [The Cumano. Chronicles of the Ten-Year War Between Como and Milan (1118-1127)]. Como: Alessandro Dominioni Editore.ISBN9788887867459.
^Bassi, Carlo (2019).Vocabolario del dialètt de Còmm [Dictionary of the dialect of Como] (in Italian) (2nd ed.). Como: Famiglia Comasca (published 2021). p. 246.ISBN978-8897180678.
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^"Borgo di Quarcino".Palio del Baradello di Como.Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved3 March 2024.
