| Como ((it)Como) | |
 | |
| Aerial view | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Lombardy |
| Lake | Como |
| Watercourse | Breggia, Cosia |
| Altitude | Between 198 and1 183 m |
| Area | 37,12 km² |
| Population | 83 320 hab. () |
| Density | 2 244,61 inhab./km² |
| Nice | Comasque (it) Comasche |
| Postal code | 22100 |
| Telephone prefix | 39 31 |
| Spindle | UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00 |
| Location | |
 45 ° 47 ′ 48 ″ N 9 ° 5 ′ 4 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
Como (Como) is a city, about 85,000 inhabitants, capital of the province of the same name in Lombardy in the North-West ofItaly.
Understand
Como has always been an area of intense activity, as it has been a crossing point between Central Europe and the Mediterranean over the centuries. Built by the Romans at the end of the Piedmont road, it was an important point of communication between Rome and its northern territories. More recently, Como has become famous for its silk.
Como was the birthplace of Roman scientists Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, as well as Alessandro Volta, inventor of the battery in the 18th century and the man who gave his name to the unit of electric force, the volt.
To go
By plane
The nearest airports are:
- Milan Malpensa (MXP, tel: 02 7485-2200). 40-60 min by car via the highway costing 1,6 €. For the train, go to the Malpensa Express ticket office on the lower level of Terminal 1 and buy a ticket to Malpensa-Saronno-Como, which costs around € 10. You will get two tickets for Malpensa-Saronno and Saronno-Como. The Malpensa Express, which departs every 30 min on average during the day, lasts about 20 min to Saronno, then take the Trenord train to Como (journey 39 min). The last station is Como North Lago, right by the lake. The entire train journey will usually take between an hour 17 min and an hour 40 min.
- Milan Linate (LIN, tel: 02 7485-2200). One hour of motorway costs about 2,7 €.
By car
The E35 motorway (toll of 1.60 for section A9, 1.10 for section A4, approximately 1.50 for section E35 west of Milan) passes through Como from Milan and continues towards Switzerland . There are many attractions in Como; to avoid Como South, choose the following (Como North and Monte Olimpino) for the city, and the last exit (ultima uscita per l'Italia) before Switzerland for Cernobbio, Bellagio and the towns on the western shore of the lake.
By train
The Servizio Ferroviario Regionale connects Como by train to other major cities of Lombardy (R lines). Services are provided by Trenitalia and Trenord through two main stations: Como S. Giovanni (Trenitalia) and Como Lago (Trenord). There is another urban station served by Trenitalia (Albate) and three other urban stations served by Trenord (Como Borghi-Università, Como Camerlata and Grandate Breccia). A trip to Milan costs 3,6 €.
- 1 Como Nord Largo Station
- 2 Como San Giovanni Station
Circulate
Many small towns and villages surround the lake como and it is recommended to visit them. If you are traveling by car, be careful as some roads are very narrow. In addition, you will find that most of the small villages have a limited parking supply.
We recommend using public transport. The bus service is very regular and it gives you a stress free ride without negotiating one of the narrow winding roads. The center of Como is rather compact and can be explored easily on foot.
The local public transport network includes several lines. Some are mainly within city limits (Urbani) and some are Extraurbani (outside city limits). the lines connect Como to most of the provincial centers. They are managed by ASF Autolinee.
By bus
Buying a ticket before boarding is better and cheaper. You can buy them in newsstands, in some bars and in all Tabacchi. An urban ticket of 75 min cost 1,1 €. You can also buy on board but the ticket costs 2 €.
Tickets vary according to the departure and destination stops:
- Yellow Tarif U with green text and the words "Rete Urbana-Como";
- Green Tariff B with black text (name of departure and destination, Urbani and Extraurbani);
- Green Tariff B with red text (list of towns, Urbani and Extraurbani);
Tariffa U tickets also have the text "Valido 75", which means that it is valid 75 min from the validation date (to be done in a machine on board the bus).
Wait until the bus is about to leave before validating to maximize your use. You can get off the bus at one stop and take another bus in the urban area of Como with the same ticket, as long as you leave the last bus before the expiry of the 75 min. The driver will likely want to see your ticket when you are there, and spot checks will sometimes be carried out by uniformed officers. For example, you can travel 20 min, go down, watch for 30 min and return to the same ticket (if the bus arrives on time).
Tariff B tickets with black text are usually validated by the conductor tearing up the upper and lower sections. Inspectors can still validate by punching it with a quarter-circle hole - the note already has a circular hole.
Tarif B tickets with red text will have a list of cities, starting with Como. When you buy it, you say which city and the seller is going to punch a hole in that city (or have one already). This makes the ticket valid only for travel between Como and the affected city, or vice versa.
Como buses don't have route maps on board, and the driver doesn't announce stops (you might ask though). Follow the route with a map to be sure.
Ferrovie Nord Milano also provides other bus lines connecting Como to Varese.
By funicular
- 1 Funicular Piazza De Gasperi 4,
39 031 303608 – Funicular connecting Como to Brunate which offers an aerial view of the lake.
On a boat
- 2 via per Cernobbio, 18, 39 031 579211, email: [email protected] – To connect the city with most of the villages located on the shores of the lake. Their fleet is made up of ferries and hydrofoils ("Aliscafi"), the former are slower, but more open, perhaps more suited to tourism, the latter are faster, make fewer stops, but have no hardly any open bridge.
- Il Medeghino Via Torriani, 39 3381465257, email: [email protected] – Private boat tours. One of the drivers speaks French very well.
See
Religious architecture
- 1 Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) – The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is the seat of the bishopric of the city of Como. Located near the lake, it is one of the most remarkable monuments in the region.
- 2 Basilica of San Fedele (Chiesa di San Fedele) – The Basilica of San Fedele is located in the city center and is dedicated to Saint Faithful of Como, evangelizer of the region of Como and who died a martyr for the faith, at the time of the persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian Hercules.
- 3 Basilica of Sant'Abbondio – The current building stands on a pre-existing 5th century church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, built by order of Saint Amantius of Como, third bishop of the city. Erected at 1 km outside the city walls, it was intended to house several relics of the two saints that Amantius had brought back from Rome.
- 4 Basilica of San Carpoforo – The Basilica of San Carpoforo was the first church of the diocese of Como, and its first cathedral.
Secular architecture
- 5 Broletto Piazza Duomo, 39 031 252352 – The Broletto is the building that housed the Municipality of the city of Como, in medieval times. It was next to the old cathedral (which since the 15th century has given way to the current cathedral), to signify the strong link between the civil authority of the municipality and the Church.
- 6 Baradello Castle (Castel Baradello) Via Castel Baradello, 39 031 592805 – Baradello Castle stands on the hill (430 m) overlooking the city.
- 7 Volta Temple Viale Guglielmo Marconi 1, 39 031 574705
Mar.- Sun. : 10 h 00 - 18 h 00. 
2 €. – The Temple of Volta is a monument dedicated to Alessandro Volta, opened in 1928. - 8 Villa Olmo Via Simone Cantoni, 1, 39 370 130 6160, email: [email protected] – Villa Olmo is an 18th century neoclassical palace and public park. It is one of the sumptuous Italian villas to visit on the shores of Lake Como
- 9 Roman baths – Spa complex open from the 1st to the 3rd century.
- 10 Memorial Via Giancarlo Puecher
Mar.- Sun. : 
Buy
Eat
Average prices
- 1 Trattoria La Costa Via Feliciano Ninguarda 19, 22100, Como, 39 031 524709
High prices
- 2 Ristorante i Tigli in Theoria Via Bianchi Giovini, 41, 39 031 305272
Have a drink / Go out
- THE 35 via rovelli 35
Housing
Middle class
- 1 Albergo Firenze Piazza Volta 16, 39 31 300333, email: [email protected]
- 2 Borgo Antico Hotel Via Borgo Vico 47, 39 31 3380150, email: [email protected] –
- 3 Borgovico Hotel Via Borgo Vico 91, 39 31 570107, email: [email protected] –
- 4 Mini Hotel Baradello Piazza Camerlata 9 / A, 39 31 523180, email: [email protected]
Luxury
- 5 Hotel Villa Flori Via Cernobbio 12, 39 031-33 820, email: [email protected] –
- 6 Palace Hotel Lungo Lario Trieste 16, 22100 Como, 39 031 23391, email: [email protected]
