Como

The town of Como, capital of the province of the same name, is located in the Lombardy Region of Italy. It has a population of around 85,000. In recent years the town has experienced an enormous boom in tourism. This is largely due to the fact that several international stars have bought villas on the shores of Lake Como, the third largest lake in Italy after Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda and considered to be Italy’s most beautiful. Como, located at the south-western end of the lake, was taken over by the Romans around 196 BC and was then called Novum Comum. However, the many Germanic invasions mean that very little remains of Roman times. Amongst the cultural sights of interest are the Dom dating from the 14th century, parts of the town walls, as well as the Olmo, Melzi, Carlotta and Balbianello villas, all built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Como and the surrounding areas also offer a host of options for sport, with hiking and biking trails and of course an almost endless variety of water sports. There are also plenty of beaches with public access for those simply wishing to take it easy.