Museo Archeologico “Giovo”
Porta Torre and Garibaldi’s statue
Villas
Tempio voltiano
Churches and other monuments
The lake
The“Y” of the lake
One of the best known
lake in Italy, famous for its
“Y” shape.
Of Ice Age origin, it is the
third largest Italian lake
after Garda and Verbano,
as well as Europe's
deepest. It is surrounded
by mountains and has a
single little island, Isola
Comacina, in the Como
branch.
Museo Archeologico Giovio
It illustrates
prehistoric and
Roman Como
Porta Torre
Porta Torre was built by Federico
Barbarossa (RedBeard) after the
destruction of Como by the
Milanese, together with the rest of
the medieval city. Garibaldi's
statue, in the square before Porta
Torre, reminds us that in 1859 the
city was forever freed from Austrian
dominion.
Villa Musa, Carminati , Saporiti…
Villa Saporiti
The famous villas reflect a rich and
thriving city, which centuries ago was
already pervaded by refined elegance
Villa Musa, in art deco style
Villa Carminati, an elegant example
of neoclassicism,
Villa Saporiti, with precious period
furnishings
Villa Parravicino
Villa Gallia
Villa Mondolfo
Villa Olmo, famous for its secular
trees which decorate the large
surrounding park .
Villa Olmo
Villa Gallia
Villa Mondolfo
Tempio voltiano
It is in neo-classical
style: built in 1927 for
the centenary of
Volta's death, it
collects a number of
instruments built by
the great scientist to
conduct his
experiments on gas
and electricity.
The Romanesque church of Sant'Abbondio,
consecrated in 1095 by Pope Urban II. The
interior, with a nave and four aisles, contains
beautiful paintings dating to the 11th century
and frescoes from the 14th.
Duomo
• Duomo (cathedral), begun in 1398 on
the site of the previous Romanesque
church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The façade was built in 1457, with
the notable rose window and two
Renaissance statues of the famous
Comaschi, Pliny the Elder and Pliny
the Younger. The interior is on the
Latin cross plan, with a nave and two
aisles divided by pilasters. The
transept wing and the relative apses
are from the 18th century. It include
a carved 16th century choir and
tapestries on cartoons by Giuseppe
Arcimboldi. The dome is by Filippo
Juvarra.
Saint Fedele
• San Fedele, a
Romanesque church
erected around 1120 over
a pre-existing central plan
edifice. The contemporary
bell tower was rebuilt in
modern times. The main
feautre is the famous Door
of St. Fedele, carved with
medieval decorations.
Public edifices or other sighs
•
•
•
•
•
•
Broletto (ancient Town Hall)
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 (by Giuseppe
Terragni)
•
Teatro Sociale (by Giuseppe Cusi)
Villa Olmo, built from 1797 in
neoclassicist style by the Odescalchi
family. It housed Napoleon
Bonaparte, Ugo Foscolo, Metternich, •
Emperor Francis Ferdinand I,
•
Giuseppe Garibaldi and other
eminent figures. It is now seat of
exhibitions.
Villa Melzi (1808-1810), with a
magnificent panorama over the
Lake. It has a famous giardino
all'Italiana. According to
tradition, Franz Liszt composed
here some of his most famous
piano sonatas.
Villa Carlotta (c. 1690). It has an
English-style park, and a
collection of marbles by Canova,
reliefs by Thorvaldsen and
others.
Ancient walls (medieval)
Castello Baradello, a small
medieval castle.