Duomo Como

What to see in Como town and how to arrive
Como is the main city in the province the lake Como. It is the most easily accessible point to reach the shores of the lake. From Milan it takes one hour by train or by car to get to Como center; it is very well connected by motorway to Switzerland and the other regions of Northern Italy. For those who want to spend a relaxing day on the lake, Como is usually the starting and ending point for organizing a complete tour and for admiring the charming historic center. With numerous hotels and a large selection of apartments for short stays, Como is undoubtedly the most comfortable and popular choice for those wishing to spend one or more nights discovering this area.

The Duomo
The monument that characterizes the city center the most is the Duomo, a Gothic-style cathedral, located at the center of  a nice pedestrian street area. In front of the facade, there are bars and restaurants, where you can relax to enjoy the beauty of this monument, built between the 14th and 18th centuries.

historic center Como

Historic center and lakeshore walks
The historic center spreads within the ancient Roman walls. Piazza San Fedele is particularly beautiful. An in-depth tour of the center on foot generally takes no more than 45 minutes / one hour, and it is a quite pleasant for taking pictures or for shopping.
There are a few walks on the lakeshore which are very nice. The first starts from Piazza Matteotti (next to the train station that connects Como to Milan): you follow along Viale Geno until you reach the fountain of Villa Geno. From here you can admire the panorama of the historic center. The walk takes no more than 30 minutes. The second walk is on the other side of the lake, starting from the center of Piazza Cavour, continue to the left, first passing by the Volta temple (a monument erected in celebration of Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the battery and the most famous historical figure originally from Como). Just after the stadium, you get to a narrow pedestrian street on the edge of the lake that leads to Villa Olmo, a historic villa from the 1700s, now part of the town hall, where events and exhibitions are organized.

 

Villa Olmo

The funicular
For those who want to see Como from above, at the beginning of the walk to Villa Geno, a funicular connects Como with the village of Brunate, which stands on the top of the mountain. From here you can admire the beauty of Como, the lake and the surrounding mountains. For those who feel like walking, in forty minutes you can arrive to the Volta Lighthouse, from where you can enjoy an even more beautiful view.

Evening
For an aperitif, the best choice is certainly Piazza Volta, where locals gather for a drink before dinner. From there you can choose among a wide choice of local restaurants, all reachable in a few minutes walk.

 

 

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