Como is a city in Lombardy, 45 kilometres north of Milan, situated at the southern tip of the south-west arm of Lake

Como.Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has made Como a popular tourist destination. The city contains numerous works

of art, churches, gardens, museums, theatres, parks and palaces: the Duomo (seat of Diocese of Como), the Basilica of

Sant'Abbondio, the Villa Olmo, the public gardens with the Tempio Voltiano, the Teatro Sociale, the Broletto (the city’s

medieval town hall) and the twentieth-century Casa del Fascio, and it also offers breath-taking sights.

Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It is the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, and one of the deepest lakes in Europe.The lake is shaped much like the character “Y”. The northern branch begins at the town of Colico, while the towns of Como and Lecco sit at the ends of the southwestern and southeastern branches respectively.

There is only one island on the lake called ‘Isola Comacina', situated in the Como leg, in front of the town Sala Comacina.

Lake Como has always been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people ever since the Roman times, and a very

popular tourist attraction, which boasts many artistic and cultural gems. It is famous for its numerous villas and

palaces. Currently, many celebrities have or had homes on the shores of Lake Como, such as Matthew Bellamy, Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace and Sylvester Stallone. Lake Como is widely regarded as being one of the most beautiful

lakes in the world.

The Villa Carlotta was built in 1690. An Italian garden, with steps, fountains and sculpture was laid out at the same time. The villa today includes a museum of agricultural implements as well as important works of sculpture by Antonio Canova and by Luigi Acquisti.

The Villa d'Este, at Cernobbio, was built in 1568 by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, a native of the town. The landscaped gardens are in the English style. Later in the century it was turned into a luxury hotel. Today the Villa d’Este is known for attracting celebrity guests.

Villa Olmo is a neoclassic villa located in the city of Como, Italy.The construction began in 1797 and was commissioned by marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi. It was designed to be a summer retreat for the nobles, hence it was built alongside the lake; the villa was named after a remarkable elm planted in the middle of the ornate gardens, no longer alive today.It was acquired in 1924 by the municipality of Como and today is open to the public only during expositions, while the lakeside gardens are freely accessible at daytime.

It took four centuries to realize the cathedral. Building works began in 1396 and it took more than 50 years to complete

only the facade. The two lateral doors are supposed to be a masterpiece of brothers

Tommaso and Jacopo Rodari, but for the southern door there could have been a participation of Bramante; the northern plentifully decorated door, is called “door of the Frog” because of a sculpture crippled in 1912. The cupola, modified in 1773, was seriously damaged by a fire in 1935 but

later turned to the original shape.

The Duomo of Como

The Basilica of Sant'Abbondio is a church in Como. It has a nave and four aisles and it was consecrated by pope Urban II on

June 3, 1095.The church has two notable belltowers rising at the end of the external aisles, in the middle of the nave. The sober façade, once preceded by a portico, has seven windows and a portal.

Notable is the external decoration of the choir's windows. The medieval monastery annexed to the church, recently

restored, will act as the seat of the local faculty of Jurisprudence.

There are different destination for those who wants to "live" the lake Como.

The city offers different possibilities: cultural tours to Como; relaxing walking tours among the towns in the central part of the lake, where you can visit the beautiful villas; it is possible

to do every watersport, such as sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, in northern part of the lake. The historic centre is

located inside the ancient city walls where there are many shops and boutiques, and plenty of cafes for you to rest, enjoy

the view and have a well earned refreshment.