Como — Mediated Wiki

{{Other uses}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox Italian comune | name = Como | official_name = {{lang|it|Città di Como}} | native_name = {{native name|lmo|Còmm}} |image_photo = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | total_width = 300 | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2 | caption_align = center | image1 = Como and its lake.jpg | caption1 = View of Como from Baradello Castle | image2 = Cathedral of Como (Italy) west facade.jpg | caption2 = Como Cathedral | image3 = Villa Olmo Riflessa.jpg | caption3 = Villa Olmo | image4 = Tempo Voltiano from southwest.jpg | caption4 = Tempio Voltiano | image5 = Come - Remparts et tours 4.JPG | caption5 = Porta Torre }} | image_flag = Flag of Como.svg | image_shield = Como-Stemma.svg | shield_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map = Italy Lombardy#Italy | coordinates = {{coord|45|49|0|N|9|5|0|E|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | region = Lombardy | province = Como (CO) | frazioni = Albate, Borghi, Breccia, Camerlata, Camnago Volta, Civiglio, Garzola, Lora, Monte Olimpino, Muggiò, Ponte Chiasso, Prestino, Rebbio, Sagnino, Tavernola | established_title = Roman foundation | established_date = 196 BC | mayor_party = independent | mayor = Alessandro Rapinese (since 27 June 2022) | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 37.14 | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://demo.istat.it/index_e.html|title=Demo-Geodemo. – Maps, Population, Demography of ISTAT – Italian Institute of Statistics|access-date=13 June 2016|archive-date=21 November 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041121033016/http://demo.istat.it/index_e.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | population_total = 84250 | population_as_of = 31 October 2022 | pop_density_footnotes = | population_demonym = Comaschi | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 201 | twin1 = | twin1_country = |istat=| saint = Saint Abbondio | day = 31 August | postal_code = 22100 | area_code = 031 | website = {{Official website|www.comune.como.it}} | footnotes = }}

'''Como''' ({{IPA|it|ˈkɔːmo|lang|It-Como.ogg}},<ref name="dop">{{DOP|id=1017160}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ |title=Dizionario di pronuncia italiana ''online'' |last1=Canepari |first1=Luciano |website=dipionline.it |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009051700/http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{IPA|it|ˈkoːmo|local|It-Como(local).ogg}};<ref name="dop"/> {{langx|lmo|Còmm|label=Comasco}} {{IPA|lmo|ˈkɔm|}},<ref>Carlo Bassi, Grammatica essenziale del "dialètt de Còmm", Como, Edizioni della Famiglia Comasca, 2014</ref> {{lang|lmo|Cómm}} {{IPA|lmo|ˈkom|}} or {{lang|lmo|Cùmm}} {{IPA|lmo|ˈkum|}};<ref>Libero Locatelli, Piccola grammatica del dialetto comasco, Como, Famiglia Comasca, 1970, p. 6.</ref> {{langx|la|Novum Comum}}) is a city and {{lang|it|comune}} (municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como.

Its prime location on the southwestern branch of Lake Como and its proximity to the Alps 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 iconic ''Duomo'', seat of the Diocese of Como; the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio; Villa Olmo; the public gardens with the Tempio Voltiano; the Teatro Sociale; the ''Broletto'', the city's medieval town hall; and the 20th-century Casa del Fascio, a landmark of modernist architecture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Como, Italy. The best things to do in Como city |url=https://lakecomotravel.com/como-italy/ |website=Lake Como Travel |date=8 May 2019 |access-date=12 October 2023 |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029175902/https://lakecomotravel.com/como-italy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Como has been the birthplace of numerous notable historical figures, including the Roman poet Caecilius, mentioned by Catullus in the 1st century BC,<ref name="Caecilius">{{cite book|author=John Hazel|title=Who's who in the Roman World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=854lczVIiCkC&pg=PA42|year=2001|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-22410-9|page=42}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.let.ru.nl/v.hunink/documents/catullus_md.htm |title=Catullus |access-date=17 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719200529/http://www.let.ru.nl/v.hunink/documents/catullus_md.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref> the celebrated writers Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, the physician and historian Paolo Giovio, Pope Innocent XI, the pioneering scientist Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/VoltaBio.htm |title=Alessandro Volta |publisher=Corrosion-doctors.org |access-date=2011-06-21 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125104338/http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/VoltaBio.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Cosima Wagner, daughter of Franz Liszt and wife of Richard Wagner, and Antonio Sant'Elia, a futurist architect and pioneer of the modern architectural movement.

==History== [[File:Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Como and Lake Como.jpg|thumb|left|''City and Lake Como'', painted by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, 1834]]

=== Ancient history === The hills surrounding the current location of Como were inhabited, since at least the Iron Age, by a Celtic tribe known as the Orobii, who also, according to Pliny the Elder and modern scholars, had relations with the Ancient Ligurians,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peron |first=Ettore Maria |title=Storia di Como |date=July 2017 |publisher=Edizioni Biblioteca dell'immagine |isbn=9788863912685 |edition=First |location=Pordenone |publication-date=2017 |pages=4 |trans-title=History of Como}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Luraschi |first=Giorgio |title=Storia di Como Antica |publisher=Edizioni New Press |year=1999 |isbn=8895383834 |edition=Second |location=Como |publication-date=1999 |pages=5 |trans-title=Ancient History of Como}}</ref> 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 of San Fermo della Battaglia and Cavallasca there were also settlements of the Golasecca Culture,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Luraschi |first=Giorgio |title=Storia di Como Antica |publisher=Edizioni New Press |year=1999 |isbn=8895383834 |edition=Second |location=Como |publication-date=1999 |pages=5 |trans-title=Ancient History of Como}}</ref> built in the Iron Age. Later, a second Celtic migration brought the Gaulish peoples in the area of Como, especially the tribe of the Insubres.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peron |first=Ettore Maria |title=Storia di Como |date=July 2017 |publisher=Edizioni Biblioteca dell'Immagine |isbn=9788863912685 |edition=First |location=Pordenone |publication-date=2017 |pages=7 |trans-title=History of Como}}</ref>

Around the first century BC, the territory became subject to the Romans. The town centre was situated on the nearby hills, but it was then moved to its current location by order of Julius 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 named ''Novum Comum'' and had the status of ''municipium''. In September 2018, Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli announced the discovery of several hundred gold coins in the basement of the former Cressoni Theater (Teatro Cressoni) in a two-handled soapstone amphora, coins struck by emperors Honorius, Valentinian III, Leo I the Thracian, Antonio and Libius Severus dating to 474 AD.<ref name="2018-09-10_NPR">[https://www.npr.org/2018/09/10/646445359/hundreds-of-roman-gold-coins-found-in-theater-basement Hundreds Of Roman Gold Coins Found In Theater Basement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912131322/https://www.npr.org/2018/09/10/646445359/hundreds-of-roman-gold-coins-found-in-theater-basement |date=12 September 2018 }}, Shannon Van Sant, NPR, 2018-09-10</ref>

=== Early Middle Ages === After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the history of Como followed that of the rest of Lombardy, being occupied by the Goths, the Byzantines, and later the Langobards. The Langobards were a significant people in the region. Originating in Scandinavia, this Germanic group arrived in the Po Valley in 568, led by King Alboin. The Langobards established the Lombard Kingdom, which initially encompassed only modern-day Northern Italy, but later expanded to include Tuscany, Umbria, and portions of Southern Italy. Under Lombard rule, Como continued to flourish, particularly due to the reconstruction of Queen Theudelind's road, which connected Germany and the Italian Peninsula, providing the town with strategic access to commerce.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zanella |first=Antonio |title=Paolo Diacono, La storia dei longobardi |date=16 October 1991 |publisher=Rizzoli |isbn=978-8817168243 |trans-title=Paul the Deacon, the History of the Langobards}}</ref> In 774, Como surrendered to the invading Franks led by Charlemagne and subsequently became a center of commercial exchange.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beni culturali |url=https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/?view=toponimi&hid=0}}</ref>

=== Communal Era === The Commune of Como likely originated in the 11th 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 the diocese, 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 neighboring Milan, and to affirm the sovereignty of the bishop 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 the guilds. The Commune had a set of laws and conventions that regulated urban activities, commerce, agriculture, fishing, hunting, law enforcement, and taxation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Piano delle regole |url=https://www.comune.como.it/export/sites/default/it/doc/pgt/piano-delle-regole/relazione-piano-delle-regole/x0.5.1xComo_Pgt_PianoRegole_Pagine_279_311.pdf |access-date=5 March 2024 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002220709/https://www.comune.como.it/export/sites/default/it/doc/pgt/piano-delle-regole/relazione-piano-delle-regole/x0.5.1xComo_Pgt_PianoRegole_Pagine_279_311.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first explicit written mention of the Commune of Como dates back to 1109. Initially, the deliberative assembly of the commune was likely the plenary assembly. In the early 12th 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 the podestà, who had broader special powers in criminal matters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comune di Como sec. XI - 1757 |url=https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/ |website=Lombardia Beni Culturali |access-date=5 March 2024 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112053523/https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The territory of the Commune extended beyond the town of Como itself, encompassing the entire diocese, which included most of present-day Province of Como, modern-day Canton of Ticino, Valtellina, Valchiavenna, and Colico.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Almini |first=Saverio |date=2005-01-19 |title=Lombardia Beni Culturali: Diocesi di Como |trans-title=Lombardy cultural heritage: the Diocese of Como |url=https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3101278/ |website=Lombardia Beni Culturali |language=it |type=History page of a Regional Government's Heritage department}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bergamaschi |first=Mario |title=Il Cumano Cronaca della guerra decennale tra Como e Millano 1118-1127 |date=January 2013 |publisher=Alessandro Dominioni Editore |isbn=9788887867459 |pages=29–36 |language=it |trans-title=The Cumano, Cronicles of the 10-Years War between Como and Milan 1118-1127}}</ref> Thanks to its strategic position on Lake Como and the important Road of Queen Theudelind, which linked the Italian Peninsula with Germany: the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, Como quickly became a wealthy and powerful town.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bergamaschi |first=Mario |title=Il Cumano Cronaca della Guerra Decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 |date=January 2013 |publisher=Alessandro Dominioni Editore |isbn=9788887867459 |location=Gorgonzola |pages=15–19 |language= |trans-title=The Cumano, cronicle of the 10-Years War between Como and Milan 1118-1127}}</ref>

During this period of growth, Como and Milan quickly became rivals. The Commune of Milan experienced significant population growth but lacked strategic communication routes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Bergamaschi |first=Mario |title=Il Cumano Cronoca della guerre decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 |date=January 2013 |publisher=Alessandro Dominioni Editore |isbn=9788887867459 |pages=51–63 |language=it |trans-title=The Cumano, Cronicles of the decennial war between Como and Milan 1118-1127}}</ref> Consequently, Milan planned to conquer neighboring territories to gain access to their strategic positions. Tensions first arose over the County of Seprio, as both communes sought control of the area.<ref name=":0" /> Meanwhile, Milan acted aggressively against other Lombard towns, leading to the outbreak of the war of Lodi when soldiers from Lodi, Pavia, and Cremona attacked Tortona, 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Corio |first=Bernardino |author-link=Bernardino Corio|title=Storia di Milano |publisher=Francesco Colombo |year=1855 |location=Milan |pages=127 |language=it |trans-title=History of Milan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Giulini |first=Giorgio |title=Memorie spettanti alla storia, al governo ed alla descrizione della città, e della campagna di Milano, ne'secoli bassi |publisher=Francesco Colombo Librajo |year=1855 |edition=3rd |location=Milan |pages=3–25 |language=it |trans-title=Memories relating to the history, government and description of the city and countryside of Milan in the early centuries}}</ref>

This left the Commune of Como as Milan's only remaining rival. Tensions escalated when Emperor Henry IV appointed Landolfo da Carcano, who sympathized with Milan, as the bishop of Como. In response, the people of Como elected Guido 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 consul Adamo 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 the Decennial 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".<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bergamaschi |first=Mario |title=Il Cumano Cronaca della guerra decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 |date=January 2013 |publisher=Alessandro Dominioni Editore |isbn=9788887867459 |pages=63–152 |language=it |trans-title=The Cumano, Cronicle of the 10-Years War between Como and Milan 1118-1127}}</ref>

After the war, the Commune was forced to pay tribute to Milan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bergamaschi |first=Mario |title=Il Cumano. Cronaca della guerra decennale tra Como e Milano 1118-1127 |publisher=Alessandro Dominioni Editore |year=2013 |isbn=9788887867459 |location=Como |publication-date=2013 |trans-title=The Cumano. Chronicles of the Ten-Year War Between Como and Milan (1118-1127)}}</ref> However, this changed when Frederick 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 the Baradello remains. He also assisted the town in rebuilding its defensive walls, most of which still survive today.

When the Guelph communes organized the Lombard 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 Emperors Henry VI and Frederick II extend additional concessions to Como, similar to those made in the Peace 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/ | title=Comune di Como, sec. XI - 1757 – Istituzioni storiche – Lombardia Beni Culturali | access-date=5 March 2024 | archive-date=12 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112053523/https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===The rise of Rusca/Rusconi family to power=== thumb|left|Coat of Arms of the {{ill|Rusca family|it|Rusca (famiglia)}}. 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 the Ghibelline faction in the town, with their principal rivals being the members of the Vitani family.

In 1182, Giovanni Rusca became a consul of the commune and was later appointed podestà 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 a lordship over the town with varying degrees of success.<ref name="lombardiabeniculturali.it">{{cite web | url=https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/?view=toponimi&hid=0 | title=Comune di Como, sec. XI - 1757 – Istituzioni storiche – Lombardia Beni Culturali | access-date=5 March 2024 | archive-date=12 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112053521/https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/3002492/?view=toponimi&hid=0 | url-status=live }}</ref>

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 the Visconti of Milan, providing Ottone 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 of Lomazzo. Milan was forced to recognize Loterio as the ruler of their rival town and return the town of Bellinzona to Como.<ref name="lombardiabeniculturali.it"/>

Thanks to this success, the family secured titles such as Lords of Como, Bellinzona, Chiavenna, and Valtellina, as well as Counts of Locarno, Lugano, and Luino. Following Loterio's death, the next notable family member was Franchino I Rusca, who established a personal lordship over Como and its territories and became an imperial 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 of Azzone Visconti, Milan won the war and Como was annexed to the Duchy of Milan. The people of Como sought to regain their administrative freedom, and an opportunity arose in 1402 when Gian 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 of Filippo 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.<ref name="lombardiabeniculturali.it"/><ref>Alberto Artioli, Il duomo di Como: guida alla storia; restauri recenti, Storie d'arte, Como, NodoLibri, 1990.</ref> In January 1449, Francesco Sforza, who claimed the title of Duke of Milan (though the city was under the control of the Ambrosian Republic), sent Giuseppe Ventimiglia to attack Como. He was repelled by the citizens led by Giovanni della Noce, forcing him to retreat to Cantù, in Brianza. 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 in Monza, intended to reunite with the Venetians of Colleoni to support Milan against Sforza. These events, known as the Battles of Cantù and Asso, 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.<ref name="lombardiabeniculturali.it"/>

=== Modern Era=== Subsequently, the history of Como followed that of the Duchy 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 the Congress of Vienna. By 1848, the population had reached 16,000.<ref>{{cite book |title=The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge Vol IV |date=1848 |publisher=Charles Knight |location=London |page=811}}</ref> In 1859, with the arrival of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the town became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy.

=== 20th century === The Rockefeller fountain that today stands in the Bronx Zoo in New York City was once in the main square (Piazza Cavour) by the lakeside. It was bought by William Rockefeller in 1902 for Lire 3,500 (the estimated equivalent then of $637).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bronx Park Highlights|url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/bronxpark/highlights/13298|access-date=18 January 2011|archive-date=17 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817011041/http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/bronxpark/highlights/13298|url-status=live}}</ref>

Como did not suffer aerial bombing during World War II.

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 in Giulino di Mezzegra, a small town on the north shores of Lake Como.

=== 21st century === In 2010, a motion by members of the nationalist Swiss People's Party  was submitted to the Swiss parliament requesting the admission of adjacent territories to the Swiss Confederation; Como (and its province) is one of these.<ref name="Figaro 22 June 2010">{{cite news|last=Maurisse|first=Marie|title=Quand un député suisse rêve d'annexer la Savoie|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2010/06/21/01003-20100621ARTFIG00751-quand-un-depute-suisse-reve-d-annexer-la-savoie.php|access-date=22 June 2010|newspaper=Le Figaro|date=22 June 2010|archive-date=24 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624101339/http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2010/06/21/01003-20100621ARTFIG00751-quand-un-depute-suisse-reve-d-annexer-la-savoie.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Standard 21 June 2010">{{cite news|title=SVP-Forderung: Vorarlberg soll Kanton werden|url=http://derstandard.at/1276413676440/SVP-Forderung-Vorarlberg-soll-Kanton-werden|access-date=22 June 2010|newspaper=Der Standard|date=21 June 2010|archive-date=24 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624024011/http://derstandard.at/1276413676440/SVP-Forderung-Vorarlberg-soll-Kanton-werden|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="La Repubblica 22 June 2010">{{cite news|last=Coen|first=Leonardo|title=L'ultima tentazione di Como: "Vogliamo diventare svizzeri"|url=http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/06/22/news/como_svizzera-5043821/|access-date=22 June 2010|newspaper=La Repubblica|date=22 June 2010|archive-date=25 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625151356/http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/06/22/news/como_svizzera-5043821/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==

Como is strategically located at the southern end of the southwestern arm of Lake Como, approximately {{convert|40|km|mi|0}} north of Milan. The city shares borders with Switzerland, specifically the Swiss ''communes'' of Chiasso and Vacallo, and the Italian ''comune'' of Blevio, Brunate, and several others. Major nearby cities include Varese, Lecco, and Lugano.

thumb|250px|The lakefront of Como thumb|Como Main Town buildings decorated with a light show in December 2017

===Climate===

{{climate chart | Como |-2|6|79 |-1|8|74 |4|13|109 |7|17|157 |12|23|201 |16|27|175 |19|30|137 |19|29|173 |13|23|160 |9|19|147 |4|12|127 |2|9|66 |float=left |clear=none }}

According to the Köppen climate classification, Como experiences a humid subtropical climate (''Cfa''). Historically, winters were colder with average daily temperatures often below freezing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/m/62658/1987/2/Historical-Weather-in-February-1987-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather in February 1987 in Como|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313050820/https://weatherspark.com/h/m/62658/1987/2/Historical-Weather-in-February-1987-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref> While occasional frosts from the Siberian 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148114/2024/1/27/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-January-27-2024-at-Milano-Malpensa-Airport-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313042717/https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148114/2024/1/27/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-January-27-2024-at-Milano-Malpensa-Airport-Italy#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.informazione.it/a/3BEAEF18-4306-44A2-80D5-F9566BA80A18/Caldo-Natale-sul-lago-di-Como-il-termometro-sfiora-i-20-gradi-colpa-del-Foehn |title=Caldo Natale sul lago di Como, il termometro sfiora i 20 gradi: colpa del Foehn |date=25 December 2023 |publisher=informazione.it |access-date=6 March 2024 |language=italian |archive-date=13 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313045555/https://www.informazione.it/a/3BEAEF18-4306-44A2-80D5-F9566BA80A18/Caldo-Natale-sul-lago-di-Como-il-termometro-sfiora-i-20-gradi-colpa-del-Foehn |url-status=live }}</ref> Spring and autumn are generally mild and pleasant, while summers can be hot and humid. Strong winds are rare, though sudden foehn winds can occur. Air pollution can be a concern in winter due to cold air trapping pollutants. Rainfall is more frequent in spring, while summers are prone to thunderstorms and occasional violent hailstorms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quicomo.it/cronaca/como-provincia-nubifragio-allagamenti-grandine-foto-.html|title=Nubifragio, raffiche di vento a 100 km/h, grandine come palline da golf|publisher=quicomo.it |access-date=6 March 2024|language= italian}}</ref>

{{Weather box  | width = auto | open =  | metric first = 1 | single line = 1 | location = Como  | Jan record high F = | Jan record high C = 21 | Feb record high F = | Feb record high C = 22 | Mar record high F = | Mar record high C = 24 | Apr record high F = | Apr record high C = 26 | May record high F = | May record high C = 31 | Jun record high F = | Jun record high C = 37 | Jul record high F = | Jul record high C = 38 | Aug record high F = | Aug record high C = 37 | Sep record high F = | Sep record high C = 31 | Oct record high F = | Oct record high C = 25 | Nov record high F = | Nov record high C = 22 | Dec record high F = | Dec record high C = 21 | year record high F = | year record high C = <!Record high dates for verification, using both official data from Milan Malpensa airport and Lugano Airport: 25 Jan 2024 and 27 Jan 2024 24 Feb 2021 and 24 Feb 2022 30 Mar 2021 02 Apr 2021 21 May 2022 27 Jun 2019 22 Jul 2022 24 Aug 2023 06 Sep 2022 16 Oct 2017 10 Nov 2015 23 Dec 2023  | Jan high F = | Jan high C = 6 | Feb high F = | Feb high C = 8 | Mar high F = | Mar high C = 13 | Apr high F = | Apr high C = 17 | May high F = | May high C = 23 | Jun high F = | Jun high C = 27 | Jul high F = | Jul high C = 30 | Aug high F = | Aug high C = 29 | Sep high F = | Sep high C = 23 | Oct high F = | Oct high C = 19 | Nov high F = | Nov high C = 12 | Dec high F = | Dec high C = 9 | year high F = | year high C =  | Jan low F = | Jan low C = -2 | Feb low F = | Feb low C = -1 | Mar low F = | Mar low C = 4 | Apr low F = | Apr low C = 7 | May low F = | May low C = 12 | Jun low F = | Jun low C = 16 | Jul low F = | Jul low C = 19 | Aug low F = | Aug low C = 19 | Sep low F = | Sep low C = 13 | Oct low F = | Oct low C = 9 | Nov low F = | Nov low C = 4 | Dec low F = | Dec low C = 2 | year low F = | year low C =  | Jan record low F = | Jan record low C = -18 | Feb record low F = | Feb record low C = -16 | Mar record low F = | Mar record low C = -11 | Apr record low F = | Apr record low C = -5 | May record low F = | May record low C = -1 | Jun record low F = | Jun record low C = 3 | Jul record low F = | Jul record low C = 7 | Aug record low F = | Aug record low C = 5 | Sep record low F = | Sep record low C = 4 | Oct record low F = | Oct record low C = -3 | Nov record low F = | Nov record low C = -9 | Dec record low F = | Dec record low C = -10 | year record low F = | year record low C =    | precipitation colour = green  | Jan precipitation inch = | Jan precipitation cm = | Jan precipitation mm =79 | Feb precipitation inch = | Feb precipitation cm = | Feb precipitation mm =74 | Mar precipitation inch = | Mar precipitation cm = | Mar precipitation mm =109 | Apr precipitation inch = | Apr precipitation cm = | Apr precipitation mm =157 | May precipitation inch = | May precipitation cm = | May precipitation mm =201 | Jun precipitation inch = | Jun precipitation cm = | Jun precipitation mm =175 | Jul precipitation inch = | Jul precipitation cm = | Jul precipitation mm =137 | Aug precipitation inch = | Aug precipitation cm = | Aug precipitation mm =173 | Sep precipitation inch = | Sep precipitation cm = | Sep precipitation mm =160 | Oct precipitation inch = | Oct precipitation cm = | Oct precipitation mm =147 | Nov precipitation inch = | Nov precipitation cm = | Nov precipitation mm =127 | Dec precipitation inch = | Dec precipitation cm = | Dec precipitation mm =66 | year precipitation inch = | year precipitation cm = | year precipitation mm =  | unit precipitation days =  | precip days colour =  | Jan precipitation days =9 | Feb precipitation days =8 | Mar precipitation days =10 | Apr precipitation days =12 | May precipitation days =13 | Jun precipitation days =11 | Jul precipitation days =8 | Aug precipitation days =9 | Sep precipitation days =8 | Oct precipitation days =10 | Nov precipitation days =11 | Dec precipitation days =9 | year precipitation days =   | humidity colour = | time day =  | daily = Y | Jan humidity =84 | Feb humidity =76 | Mar humidity =69 | Apr humidity =74 | May humidity =72 | Jun humidity =71 | Jul humidity =73 | Aug humidity =72 | Sep humidity =74 | Oct humidity =81 | Nov humidity =85 | Dec humidity =86 | year humidity =  | Jan sun =59 | Feb sun =97 | Mar sun =151 | Apr sun =176 | May sun =209 | Jun sun =242 | Jul sun =285 | Aug sun =253 | Sep sun =187 | Oct sun =129 | Nov sun =65 | Dec sun =58 | year sun =  | Jan uv =1 | Feb uv =2 | Mar uv =3 | Apr uv =5 | May uv =7 | Jun uv =8 | Jul uv =8 | Aug uv =7 | Sep uv =5 | Oct uv =3 | Nov uv =2 | Dec uv =1 | year uv =  | source = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148117/2023/12/23/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-December-23-2023-at-Lugano-Airport-Switzerland#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313034358/https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148117/2023/12/23/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-December-23-2023-at-Lugano-Airport-Switzerland#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref> | source 2 = <ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/italy/como-climate |title=Como Climate |publisher=Weather-atlas.com |access-date=15 June 2020 |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615110809/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/italy/como-climate |url-status=live }}</ref> }}

==Administration==

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 9 ''assessori'' (city ministers), each overseeing a specific department. The ''assessori'' 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. {{See also|List of mayors of Como}}

===Administrative divisions: ''frazioni''===

thumb|250px|Administrative subdivisions of Como's ''frazioni'' Administratively, Como is divided into nine ''{{lang|it|frazioni}}'' (roughly equivalent to wards or districts):

# Albate – Muggiò – Acquanera # Lora # Prestino – Camerlata – Breccia – Rebbio # Camnago Volta # City Center – West Como # Borghi # North Como – East Como # Monte Olimpino – Ponte Chiasso – Sagnino – Tavernola # Garzola – Civiglio

==Main sights== {{Further|List of buildings and structures in Como}}

===Churches=== thumb|250px|right| Duomo (Cathedral) thumb|250px|right| The park of Villa Olmo and the Cathedral *Como Cathedral: Construction began in 1396 on the site of the previous Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The façade was built in 1457, with the characteristic rose window and a portal flanked by two Renaissance statues of the famous ''comaschi'' Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. The construction was finished in 1740. The interior is on the Latin cross plan, with Gothic 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 by Giuseppe Arcimboldi. The dome is a rococo structure by Filippo Juvarra. Other artworks include 16th–17th-century tapestries and 16th-century paintings by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio 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 the Cistercians 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 is Baroque. *''Basilica of Sant'Abbondio'', a Romanesque structure consecrated in 1095 by Pope 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 God Mercury to house the remains of Saint Carpophorus and other local martyrs. thumb|Cathedral as seen at night during the light festival of Como in December 2017

===Secular buildings and monuments=== *The ancient town hall, known as the ''Broletto'' *''Casa del Fascio'', possibly Giuseppe Terragni's most famous work. It has been described as an early "landmark of modern European architecture". *''Monumento ai caduti'' (war memorial) by Giuseppe Terragni *Teatro Sociale by Giuseppe Cusi in 1813<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://teatrosocialecomo.comfitmm.net/eng/ |title=Il tetatro socilae di Come (in English) |access-date=28 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703051509/http://teatrosocialecomo.comfitmm.net/eng/ |archive-date=3 July 2013 }}</ref> *''Villa Olmo'', built from 1797 in neoclassicist style by the Odescalchi family. It housed Napoleon, Ugo Foscolo, Prince Metternich, Archduke Franz Ferdinand I, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and other eminent figures. It is now a seat for exhibitions. *''Monumental Fountain'' also known as "Volta's Fountain", a monument to Volta's battery; it was designed by architect Carlo Cattaneo and painter Mario Radice and is a {{convert|9|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|abbr=on}} cement combination of alternating spheres and rings. It is in the centre of Camerlata Square. *Ancient walls (medieval) * the Tempio Voltiano, a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta, a famous Comasco engineer, physicist, and inventor * the ''Life Electric'', a modern sculpture made by Daniel Libeskind * ''Castello Baradello'', a small medieval castle overlooking the town and which is all that remains of the fortress constructed by Barbarossa {{Circa|1158}} upright|thumb|250px|The church of San Fedele, apse area [[File:Villa Olmo Eng Garden-Como.jpg|upright|thumb|250px|The Neoclassical English landscape gardens of Villa Olmo]] thumb|Villa Geno and fountain from ferry on the lake [[File:Como, Tempio Voltiano.jpg|thumb|The Tempio Voltiano (Volta Temple), a museum dedicated to the memory of Alessandro Volta]]

==Economy==

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lake Como's Silk|date=16 June 2019|url=https://lakecomotravel.com/lake-como-silk-history-and-shops/|publisher=lakecomotravel.com|access-date=13 December 2022|archive-date=13 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213194328/https://lakecomotravel.com/lake-como-silk-history-and-shops/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Tagliabue|first=John|title=Italian Silk Industry Upset By a New U.S. Trade Law|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/10/business/italian-silk-industry-upset-by-a-new-us-trade-law.html|access-date=18 July 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 April 1997|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402195605/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/10/business/italian-silk-industry-upset-by-a-new-us-trade-law.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 the Milan metropolitan area, with a significant portion of its workforce employed in the service 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cross-border commuters|url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income/employment-working-hours/economically-active-population/cross-border-commuters.html|publisher=Admin.ch|access-date=19 November 2022|archive-date=19 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119051859/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income/employment-working-hours/economically-active-population/cross-border-commuters.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turismo a Como, i pernottamenti crescono del 28% rispetto al 2022|date=22 September 2023|url=https://www.espansionetv.it/2023/09/22/turismo-a-como-i-pernottamenti-crescono-del-28-rispetto-al-2022/|publisher=espansione TV|access-date=6 March 2024|language=Italian|archive-date=10 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210020056/https://www.espansionetv.it/2023/09/22/turismo-a-como-i-pernottamenti-crescono-del-28-rispetto-al-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Places to Visit in Italy|url=https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-places-to-visit-in-italy/|publisher=US News|access-date=7 October 2021|archive-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007103447/https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-places-to-visit-in-italy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Demographics==

{{Historical populations|1861|31260|1871|33369|1881|36183|1901|43714|1911|50203|1921|53767|1931|60128|1936|62415|1951|70447|1961|81983|1971|97996|1981|95571|1991|87059|2001|78680|2011|82045|2021|83361|footnote=Source: ISTAT|cols=1|align=right}}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:<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistiche Istat |url=https://esploradati.istat.it//|publisher=Istat|access-date= 6 March 2024}}</ref>

<!-- Graph temporarily hidden since the graph template hasn't been fixed yet

{{GraphChart | width = 300 | height = 150 | xAxisTitle=year | yAxisTitle= thousand | yAxisMin= | yGrid= 0,1 | xGrid= 10 | legend= | type = line | x = 1860,1870,1880,1890,1900,1910,1920,1930,1940,1950,1960,1970,1980,1990,2000,2010,2020 | y1= 31.8, 33.3, 36.2, 39, 43.7, 50.2, 53.8, 60.1, 62.4, 70.5, 82,98, 95.6,87, 78.7, 82, 84 | y1Title= population (thousands) }} --> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; font-size:95%;" ! Pos. !! Origin !! Percentage|% |- | 1 || align=center| Italy || 86% |- | 2 || align=center| Europe || 5.3% |- | 3 || align=center| Asia || 4.1% |- | 4 || align=center| Africa || 2.8% |- | 5 || align=center| America || 1.8% |- | 6 || align=center| Oceania || 0.02% |- |}

Top 20 nationalities of resident aliens:

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:right; font-size:95%;" ! Pos. !! Citizenship !! Residents |- | 1 || align=left| {{flag|Philippines|name}} || 1155 |- | 2 || align=left| {{flag|Romania|name}} || 947 |- | 3 || align=left| {{flag|Sri Lanka|name}} || 791 |- | 4 || align=left| {{flag|Turkey|name}} || 656 |- | 5 || align=left| {{flag|Albania|name}} || 604 |- | 6 || align=left| {{flag|Ukraine|name}} || 578 |- | 7 || align=left| {{flag|El Salvador|name}} || 545 |- | 8 || align=left| {{flag|Nigeria|name}} || 498 |- | 9 || align=left| {{flag|China|name}} || 470 |- |10 || align=left| {{flag|Tunisia|name}} || 426 |- |11 || align=left| {{flag|Pakistan|name}} || 411 |- |12 || align=left| {{flag|Morocco|name}} || 364 |- |13 || align=left| {{flag|Bangladesh|name}} || 313 |- |14 || align=left| {{flag|Ecuador|name}} || 301 |- |15 || align=left| {{flag|Peru|name}} || 234 |- |16 || align=left| {{flag|Ghana|name}} || 233 |- |17 || align=left| {{flag|Russia|name}} || 214 |- |18 || align=left| {{flag|Egypt|name}} || 168 |- |19 || align=left| {{flag|United Kingdom|name}} || 164 |- |20 || align=left| {{flag|Kosovo|name}} || 151 |- |}

== Culture ==

===Museums=== Como is home to the following museums and exhibition centres: *Garibaldi Museum (Como) – a museum dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi *Tempio Voltiano – a museum devoted to Alessandro Volta's work *Villa Olmo – various exhibitions *Pinacoteca Civica – paintings and artworks from the Carolingian to modern era housed in the 17th-century Palazzo Volpi

===Cuisine=== {{See also|Lombard cuisine}} Polenta is a popular dish in Como, and was traditionally eaten for meals in wintertime. It is obtained by mixing and cooking corn flour and buckwheat. 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. [[File:Coniglio e polenta 01.JPG|thumb|A typical plate of ''polenta'' (here depicted with rabbit), a very common and traditional dish of the region]] A traditional dish is the ''Risotto con Filetti di Pesce Persico'' or simply ''Risotto al Pesce Persico'' (European perch filet risotto), a fish grown in Lake Como, prepared with white wine, onion, butter and wheat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/northern-italy|title=Food and Culture Encyclopedia:Northern Italy|publisher=answers.com|access-date=5 April 2010|archive-date=4 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604131418/http://www.answers.com/topic/northern-italy|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Palio del Baradello=== {{See also|War of Milan against Como}}

In Como, a medieval festival called ''Palio del Baradello'' takes place annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palio del Baradello di Como |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/#fh5co-tab-feature-center3 |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=4 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304002504/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/#fh5co-tab-feature-center3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first edition took place in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Il Palio |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/palio.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como}}</ref> 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 Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and aided him in his fight against the rebel communes in Lombardy. The Emperor restored Como's former freedom, which was lost in a ten-year-long war against Milan. Together, the Ghibelline communes and the emperor defeated Milan.

These pivotal moments for the town are celebrated by the medieval festival, where actors portray the main characters: Frederick Barbarossa, Henry the Lion, Beatrice of Burgundy, and Bishop Ardizzone, while citizens dress up in medieval attire.

During the Palio del Baradello, the town is divided into its historical wards called "Borghi" (in Lombard: "Burgh"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bassi |first=Carlo |title=Vocabolario del dialètt de Còmm |publisher=Famiglia Comasca |isbn=978-8897180678 |edition=2nd |location=Como |publication-date=2021 |pages=246 |language=it |trans-title=Dictionary of the dialect of Como |year=2019}}</ref>) Tavernola,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Borgo di Tavernola |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Tavernola.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232130/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Tavernola.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Quarcino,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Borgo di Quarcino |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Quarcino.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232128/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Quarcino.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Rebbio, Camerlata,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Borgo di Camerlata |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Camerlata.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como}}</ref> Cernobbio,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comune di Cernobbio |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Cernobbio.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232131/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Cernobbio.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cortesella<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contrada della Cortesella |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Cortesella.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=31 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831215357/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Cortesella.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Sant'Agostino.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Borgo di Sant'Agostino |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Santagostino.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232131/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/Santagostino.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Gare |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/gare.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232121/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/gare.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 of siege engines, culminating in a ceremony where the emperor announces to the public which ward won the competition.

thumb|150px|People dressed in medieval clothing thumb|150px|Last day parade of the Medieval festival

==Symbology==

===Heraldry=== The heraldic 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, the Ghibellines. The first recorded mention of this emblem dates back to the decennial 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").<ref name="comune.como.it">{{cite web | url=https://www.comune.como.it/it/comune/stemma-gonfalone-e-logo/stemma-comunale/ | title=Stemma comunale | access-date=3 March 2024 | archive-date=31 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831215507/https://www.comune.como.it/it/comune/stemma-gonfalone-e-logo/stemma-comunale/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

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 historian Francesco Ballarini wrote that the people of Como at the time were already using the motto in the town's coat of arms.<ref name="comune.como.it"/> 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 emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. The motto was later censored when the town was conquered by the Visconti family in the 15th Century. It was restored when the town proclaimed its independence from the Lordship of Milan, but censored again as Milan regained control over Como. The motto was restored one last time after the unification of Italy, as otherwise the town's coat of arms would have been too similar to the arms of the House of Savoy, which were included in the heraldic achievement of the newly born Kingdom 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 the Austria, 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).<ref name="comune.como.it"/>

===Flags===

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's heraldic achievement. This flag can be seen displayed at the town hall (Palazzo Cernezzi). thumb|''Version of the flag with the word LIBERTAS''

==Transportation==

===Rail=== The Servizio Ferroviario Regionale (Regional Railway Service) connects Como by train to other major cities in Lombardy. Services are provided by Trenord through two main stations: Como San Giovanni and Como 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 and Zürich HB and Basel SBB. Intercity and EuroCity trains stop at this station, which makes Como very accessible from the European Express train network.

The lakeside funicular connects the centre of Como with Brunate, a small village (1,800 inhabitants) on a mountain at {{convert|715|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level. thumb|250px|An old steamship [[File:Como-Brunate funicular - June2016.jpg|thumb|250px|The funicular to Brunate]]

===Buses and taxis=== 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 by ASF Autolinee.

Ferrovie Nord Milano also provides other bus lines connecting Como to Varese in substitution of the original railway line that was dismissed in the 1960s.

Taxi service is provided by the Municipality of Como.

===Ship transport=== The boats and hydrofoils (''aliscafi'') of Navigazione Laghi connect the town with most of the villages sitting on the shores of the lake.

===Airports=== Nearby airports providing scheduled flights are Malpensa International Airport, Milano Linate and Orio al Serio International Airport; Lugano Airport, in Switzerland, mainly schedules regional flights within Switzerland, charter flights to nearby countries<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/lug |access-date=16 August 2023 |title=Lugano Airport |website=Flightradar24 |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816065332/https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/lug |url-status=live }}</ref> and caters to private aircraft operations.

====Aero Club==== thumb|250px|right|Aero Club Como Como is home to the oldest seaplane operation in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2022/06/21/the-worlds-best-hotel-bars-terrazza-241-in-lake-como-italy/|title=The World's Best Hotel Bars: Terrazza 241 In Lake Como, Italy|website=www.forbes.com|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705215348/https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2022/06/21/the-worlds-best-hotel-bars-terrazza-241-in-lake-como-italy/|url-status=live}}</ref> the [https://aeroclubcomo.com/en/ Aero Club Como] (ICAO code LILY),<ref>[http://www.aeroclubcomo.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=bZe0doYZKZc%3d&tabid=118&language=it-IT AIP Italia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909025457/http://www.aeroclubcomo.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=bZe0doYZKZc%3d&tabid=118&language=it-IT |date=9 September 2011 }} AD2 LILY</ref> with a fleet consisting of four seaplanes, used for flight training and local tour flights and four classic seaplanes of historical interest, a 1961 Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, a 1946 Republic RC-3 Seabee a 1947 Macchi M.B.308 ''idro'' and a perfectly restored 1935 Caproni Ca.100.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aeroclubcomo.com/en/the-historic-fleet/|title=The historic fleet|website=www.aeroclubcomo.com|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705194149/https://aeroclubcomo.com/en/the-historic-fleet/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroclubcomo.com/|title=Aero Club Como|access-date=20 September 2014|archive-date=31 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831215516/https://aeroclubcomo.com/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> A hangar right next to the lake houses the club's fleet and is also used for aircraft maintenance and servicing. thumb|right|The restored Caproni 100

==Education and culture== Como hosts numerous high schools, the "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory of Music, the "Aldo Galli" Design School, the University of Insubria, and a campus of the Politecnico di Milano.

==Healthcare== Healthcare services are delivered by three principal hospitals: Ospedale Sant'Anna, Ospedale Valduce, and ''Istituto clinico Villa Aprica''. The Italian Red Cross, the ''Guardia Medica'', and various volunteer-based and private organizations provide emergency and out-of-hours medical assistance.

==Sports== Como's sporting scene includes clubs such as Como 1907 football club, competing in the Italian first tier Serie A, and ASDG Comense 1872 women's basketball team, a two-time EuroLeague Women champion. Lake Como offers numerous recreational activities, including sailing, windsurfing, and the annual Città di Como Challenger tennis tournament.

==Twin cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy}}

Como is twinned with the following cities, fostering international cultural and civic exchange:<ref>{{cite web|title=Città Gemelle|url=https://www.comune.como.it/it/comune/citta-messaggera-di-pace/citta-gemelle/|publisher=Comune di Como|access-date=7 October 2021|archive-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007105014/https://www.comune.como.it/it/comune/citta-messaggera-di-pace/citta-gemelle/|url-status=live}}</ref> *{{flagicon|GER}} Fulda, Germany, since 1960 *{{flagicon|JPN}} Tokamachi, Japan, since 1975 *{{flagicon|PLE}} Nablus, Palestine, since 1998 *{{flagicon|ISR}} Netanya, Israel, since 2004<ref name="Netanya twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.netanya.muni.il/eng/?CategoryID=1779|title=Netanya – Twin Cities|access-date=2013-08-01|work=Netanya Municipality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201094809/http://www.netanya.muni.il/Eng/?CategoryID=1779|archive-date=2013-02-01}}</ref> *{{flagicon|LAT}} Jelgava, Latvia, since 2016

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== *{{cite book |publisher = Karl Baedeker |location = Leipzig |edition=14th |title = Northern Italy |year = 1913 |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/northernitalyi00karl#page/n325/mode/2up |chapter=Como |ol=16015532M}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Como}} {{wikivoyage|Como}}

*[http://www.comune.como.it/ Official website] {{in lang|it|en}} *[http://www.visitcomo.eu/en/ Official Tourism Portal] *[http://www.comocomera.it/ Historical picture gallery and slideshow] *[http://www.lakecomo.it/ Official Tourist Board website] {{in lang|it|en}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090201171637/http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/com/nlc.html Lake Como Navigation Company] *[http://como-lake.arounder.com Official Virtual Tour] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Cx3WJgZ0k A documentary about the Lake] by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Category:Como Category:Cities and towns in Lombardy Category:Roman towns and cities in Italy Category:Populated places established in the 1st century BC Category:Italy–Switzerland border