Como is a historic and touristic town on the shores of the lake of the same name. It is a convenient base for exploring the towns on Lake Como and a large port from which ferries depart to various parts of the basin.
The city has its origins at the beginning of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans founded their settlement here on the site of the destroyed village of Gauls. One of the most outstanding ancient historians, Pliny the Younger, came from it. He is commemorated with a statue on the facade of the local cathedral.
Another prominent inhabitant of Como was Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the battery prototype. It is recalled by the Tempio Voltiano Museum located in a neoclassical building resembling a temple, as well as a monument .
Como Center is centered around the Cathedral Square and the monumental Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary . Its construction began at the end of the 14th century in the Gothic style and was completed after almost 400 years with a late Baroque dome and Rococo decorations. The 13th-century Broletto Palace stands next to the church. Among the monuments of Como are also the Romanesque churches of St. Fidelis and St. Abundius . The former city center is surrounded by the remains of defensive walls.
From the 18th century, Como began to develop as a thriving holiday resort. Along the Passeggiata Villa Olmo stand elegant villas from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries belonging to the financial and industrial elite of northern Italy. There is a port next to it, from which you can take a trip by cruise ship or ferry to picturesque towns scattered along the shores of the lake. It is precisely such cruises combined with visiting small towns that are the greatest attraction of Como.
The Como area is mountainous and famous for its beautiful views. Closest to the city is a 400-meter hill, on top of which rise the ruins of the Baradello Fortress with a viewing terrace. A longer trip is necessary if you want to see the city and the lake from almost 1000 meters above sea level. At the top of the Brunate mountain stands the Voltiano lighthouse , which is also a lookout tower. You can get here on the Como-Brunate Railway.
