Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

144  THE LAKES OF NOR THERN IT AL Y

1 Como
* 85,200. n IAT, Piazza Cavour 17
(031-26 97 12). ∑ lakecomo.org
Comum was founded by the
Romans in 196 BC and in the
12th century fought against
Milan as an ally of Barbarossa,
who built the medieval walls.
In 1335 Como came under
Visconti rule and in 1451
under Sforza rule. The town
shared Milan’s fate under
Spanish and Austrian domi-
nation, becoming part of
the Kingdom of Italy in 1859. Piazza del Duomo in Como, the birthplace of Pliny the Elder
Como’s many Romanesque
churches include the 12th- designed by Simone Cantoni Villa Erba (now a conference
century San Fedele and in 1797, has frescoed rooms centre) is known for its interior
the jewel of the Comacine and a park. A funicular goes (visits by request): the Salone
mas ters, 11th-century Lombard– up to Brunate, with spectacular da Ballo, chapel and Sala delle
Romanesque Sant’Abbondio. views of Como and popular Nozze, decorated by architect
The Duomo, begun in hiking trails. Gio condo Albertolli, are lovely.
1396, is dominated by Filippo
Juvarra’s Baroque dome. The R Duomo P Hotel Villa d’Este
sculpture on the Gothic façade Piazza Duomo. Tel 031-26 52 44. Via Regina 40. Tel 031-34 81.
and the Porta della Rana door Open 7:30am–7:30pm daily. Closed Nov–Mar.
were executed by Tommaso P Tempio Voltiano P Villa Erba
and Jacopo Rodari (c.1500). Viale Marconi. Tel 031-57 47 05. Largo Visconti 4. Tel 031-34 91. Closed
The nave and side altars are Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun. & to the public. The Luchino Visconti
decorated with 16th-century P Villa Olmo rooms can be booked for group visits.
tapestries and canvases by Via Cantoni 1. Tel 031-57 19 79.
Ferrari and Luini. Next to the Open 10am–8pm Tue–Fri, 10am–
Duomo is the Romanesque- 10pm Sat & Sun (times may vary in the 3 Isola Comacina
Gothic Broletto (1215). summer months). Closed hols. & 8 Como. n IAT, Piazza Cavour 17, Como
The Tempio Voltiano (1927) (031-26 97 12). @ (as far as Sala
contains relics of the physicist Comacina, then by boat).
Alessandro Volta from Como, 2 Cernobbio
who gave his name to “voltage”. Como. * 7,000. n Via Regina 33b The only island on Lake Como
The Casa del Fascio (1936) (031-51 01 98) (open Apr–Sep); Piazza has been inhabited since
exemplifies Italian Rationalist Cavour 17, Como (031-26 97 12). Roman times. It was fortified by
architecture. Villa Olmo, the Byzantines and enjoyed a
Cernobbio marks
the beginning of a
series of splendid From Mulberry to Silk
villas that have Como produces
made the western about 80 per cent
side of the lake of Europe’s silk.
famous. Villa d’Este, Silk worms were
built by Pellegrino imported in the
Tibaldi in 1570 for 14th century and
the Gallio family, production thrived
became a luxury in the 17th century Cocoons
hotel in 1873, fre- with the large-scale
quented by princes cultivation of
and actors. The mulberries, the worms’
food. Silk thread was woven
rooms have period and sent on the “silk route”
furnishings and in Austria and Bavaria.
are used for Competition from Chinese
conferen ces. The silk now forces Como to
villa stands in an concentrate on quality silk,
Italianate garden as shown in the Museo della
The Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, once host to the Duke of with a nympheum. Seta (Silk Museum) in Como.
Windsor and Mrs Simpson The 18th-century

144-145_EW_Milan.indd 144 20/10/16 3:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm