Ed and Myra in Japan: Como - Italy - late June early July 2011

Well I am back to my blog. I have been back in the states since late August and I have a lot of catching up to do. Ed had a business trip to Como, Italy in late June and I was lucky enough to go with him. Como was built by the Romans in 59BC, destroyed by the Milanese in 1127 and successively rebuilt with the help of the Holy Roman Emperor, "The Redbeard" towards the end of the 12th century.

We stayed in this hotel. Our room is the opened window on the third floor.

Front entrance to our hotel.

The inside sitting area and staircase up to our room.

This is the view of Lake Como from our room. We arrived on a Wednesday. Ed went to work and I walked around the town taking in all the sights. So, I will take you on my walking tour of Como. I did not see all the sights in one day because everything closes down at noon and reopens at 3 and some things are not open every day. We were there for almost 3 weeks.

Duomo, the Cathedral, built between 1396 - 1740 on the site of a previous church.

The front of the Duomo, the statues that go up either side of the door start with the beginning of mankind up to the statues in the middle center which are of the birth of Christ.

Main altar inside the Duomo

The organ and one of the side altars.

The crucifix of Christ has real hair.

The inside of the dome.

The statues are used for Holy Water and are from Roman times before Christianity.

The Broletto, the ancient town hall made of three- colored marble stone. It was built in 1215 and shortened in 1477 to enlarge the Cathedral.

The Opera House , Teatro Sociale, was built in 1811-1813 on the site of the old castle of the Round Tower. It is still in use today.

Casa del Fasico built 1932- 1936, considered a masterpiece of modern architecture and example of rationalism. It was Mussolini's headquarters during the war and now is the headquarters of the Guardia di Finanza. Mussolini was captured near Como while trying to escape to the Alps. Como is in the very Northern part of Italy near the Alps.

High school where Volta, inventor of the battery, taught. The school is still in use today.

Medieval Tower which is the central one, Porta Torre, built in 1192 as part of the defensive system that include Baradello Castle which I never got to see. (Poor girl - Ed's comment)

The streets of Como which I walked every day.

During the early centuries of Como they often painted a picture where a window should be.

Mural placed on the wall to show where a church use to be located.

I visited the Civic Museums which had a lot to see. This is a Traditional Wooden Carnival Mask.

Ancient Mummy. Look close you can see the Mummy.

Como still the same as laid out in Roman times

From Roman times.

Saint Giacomo

Inside Saint Giacomo

The back of Saint Fedele, an ancient Cathedral

Square in front of Saint Fedele. The buildings in the fore left corner have been there for centuries.

The church is where the town center was found during Roman times, and believed to have been the site of the Roman Forum.

The Temple of Volta - it contains the instruments of Alessandro Volta the inventor of the battery.

The first battery. (You need a big flashlight)

Inside Temple Volta.

There are many Villas on the lake and these are a few I got to see on my walks around Como.

Villa Saporili built between 1790-1793 - Napoleon, Isabel Queen of Naples, Ferdinand I of Austria among the guests who stayed here.

Villa Gallia built in 1615 by Marco Gallio and Duke Alvito.

Villa Olmo built in 1782, now the seat of congresses and conferences as well as big art exhibitions.

Inside Villa Olmo

Ed and I took a boat ride around Lake Como the first week end we were there and these are pictures of a few of the many wonderful sights.

Before boarding the boat.

Ed and Myra on the boat.

George Clooney's Villa.

See the boat house entrance.

Have to put your laundry somewhere.

Private Beach for the town. People love the sun and they were out on any available space close to the water.

The boat with the red arches is a wedding boat.

And this can be your vacation spot for a week for just $126,000.

They were setting up for a wedding when we passed this Villa which is in Bellagio.

Ed and I got off the boat and walked around the town of Bellagio called the pearl of Lake Como because of its position at the Y of the lake and its enchanting sites.

Bellagio

Street in Bellagio

We also visited the town of Varenna . In 1169, encouraged by the fail of Milan to emperor Frederick Barbarossa, the people of Como invaded the Comacina Island destroying fortresses, houses and churches and forced inhabitants to flee. The islanders crossed the lake and sought refuge here. The landing of the refuges is celebrated each year. We had to leave before the evening celebration because of catching the boat in time to get back to Como but we did enjoy the sights.

Steps to Varena

Another day of touring around brought me to the Silk Museum. Wooden dyeing vat with elliptical reel used for dyeing fabrics sewed end to end. The museum dedicated to the production of silk which has been an industry in the historic city since the 1800's.

Conditioning stove used in the silk-seasoning station. The silk samples are dried progressively for fifteen minutes and tested until they reach a constant weight. The lady working at the museum told me that there was only three places in the world that still had these stoves.

The funicular that connects Como to Brunate since 1894 which , of course, was under repair while we were there so we took an exciting bus ride to the top and back on very narrow roads where in some places only one car could pass, especially at the sharp turns in the road.

We, of course, had a glass of wine and enjoyed the view from the top.

One evening we had Aperitifs cocktails with an operetta.

Best way to experience your first opera.

Ed and the merry widower.

Sunday afternoon we caught the boat to go to Cernobbio to go to the famous Harry's Bar where you might just see some celebrities. We did not see any but we had a nice snack and walked around the town.