There are words in Spanish which change their meaning simply when you use a written accent. In Lake Como’s mildest spot, the Tremezzina Riviera, foliage remains green all winter, so it’s no wonder one of Italy’s most famous gardens is here. Although the 18th-century palace of Villa Carlotta is filled with sculpture and paintings, most tourists come to see its fabulous hillside of gardens. At their best in May, when the camellias and 12-meter-tall banks of massed rhododendrons are in bloom, the gardens are filled with colorful flowers throughout the season. The church is the work of the 11th-century master stoneworkers respected across medieval Europe as the Maestri Comacini-the Como Masters. You can see most of their intricate stone carving from the exterior of Sant’Abbondio in the Museo Civico, where it was taken to protect it from weather and environmental damage.
Como Cathedral
Como can be used in one clause of a sentence to introduce the reason for the outcome in the other clause. Equivalent expressions for this use of como in English are since, as, and because. In this use, como often forms part of a comparative phrase using tan … como or tanto … como.
Tempio Voltiano (Alessandro Volta Museum)
You can also see two statues beside the door depicting Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger. So if you are short on time, concentrate on the main sights and attractions in Como mentioned in the top 10 of this list. In this guide, we share recommendations for the VERY BEST things to see and do in Como town and just nearby (all within walking distance). We also created a map indicating all the places mentioned in this guide. Most Spanish language students find it challenging to use “como.” They get confused when traveling to Colombia and speaking to locals because of the multiple ways we use this word.
As promised, here is a map indicating all the best places to visit in Como city and just nearby. Also worth seeing is the splendid Chiesa di Santa Cecilia which was built in the mid-1300s. It’s located in the old town, just next to Porta Torre, so you’ll likely pass here anyway. Basilica di San Fedele located in the middle of the old town dates back to the 11th century and may have been Como’s first cathedral. The production of silk may have originated in China but you may be surprised to know that Como is one of the most important players in the worldwide silk industry. Indeed, more than 23,000 Comaschi (people from Como) now work in the silk business.
Varenna, Lake Como: Best Things to Do, Info & Tips for Your Visit
In this post we’ll focus on como vs cómo, so you can be sure to keep each of them clear. We’ll go through each one individually, introducing the various meanings and uses for both como and cómo. As always, we’ll demonstrate each meaning by including plenty of examples to show them used in context. Como, city, Lombardia regione (region), northern Italy, rimmed by mountains at the extreme southwest end of Lake Como, north of Milan. As the ancient Comum, perhaps of Gallic origin, it was conquered by the Romans in 196 bce and became a Roman colony under Julius Caesar. In the 11th century, after struggles with the Lombards and the Franks, it became a free commune.
Near the cathedral, two adjoining palaces house the museums of archaeology and history. If your taste runs to something more modern, Como was a hotbed of Rationalist architects, who laid the foundation of Modernism. The poster-child building of this movement is Como’s Casa del Fascio, designed in the early 1930s by Giuseppe Terragni. Como town is quite enchanting, a destination that combines some of the most stunning scenery in the world with compelling art, architecture, and history. I hope this guide helps you get a better idea of what to expect and plan your visit.
The perfectly landscaped terraces and gardens surrounding the villa are all original to their early-1800s design to frame lake views with cypresses and statues. You can save some climbing and get a good overview of the town and lake on the Bellagio Express, a miniature tourist train. The 25-minute como hacer una aplicacion web con python circuit includes panoramic views, and you can get off at various places, such as the Melzi Park. Como is no stranger to tourists, having been a favorite of upper-crust Romans, whose villas predated those of royalty, and Hollywood stars who have favored it more recently. The lake between its steep, wooded shores is beautiful enough, but on either side rise mountains, and to the north, the Alps, making the views even better.
The Museo Storico Giuseppe Garibaldi features the decisive battle of the Risorgiamento (when Italy gained liberation from Austria) that took place in the hills overlooking Como. The former palazzo includes furnished period rooms and exhibits showing local traditions and history. Especially fine and well-displayed is the collection of handmade lace.
- It is the site of the National Institute of Silk, with large workshops and laboratories and vocational-training facilities.
- One of the most unusual churches in Como is the Tempio Sacrario Sport Nautici (Nautic Sports Shrine Temple).
- The formal beds of native and exotic plants that stretch along the shore have their share of statues, colonnades, and miniature temples, but with a relaxed and unfussy air.
- Just as we saw with indirect questions, we still need to use the accented cómo when there’s some implicit question in the statement.
As an interrogative in indirect questions
Como made peace with Milan in 1183 and after 1335 fell under the rule of the Visconti family and the Sforzas of Milan. During that period its silk industry and wool trade played an important role in the Milanese economy. As the lake steamer approaches Bellagio, you’ll see a swath of green bordering the shore. Those are the gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril, and a favorite place to stroll.
- It now houses a museum dedicated to Volta’s life and work, containing personal memorabilia, an excellent collection of scientific instruments, and an early version of the electric battery.
- I’m Jurga, a traveler with a camera, a mom of three boys, and the founder of Full Suitcase, one of the world’s leading family travel blogs.
- Before setting out by boat, check the day’s schedules carefully, so you’ll know when the latest one returns and from what town.
- The villa was built in the early 1900s for the leading silk manufacturer, Davide Bernasconi.
- Como takes different English translations depending on its use, which can include like, as, as if, around, about, if… we’ll see each one of these below.
It’s also sometimes used as an exclamation or interjection, including as a way to ask someone to repeat what they just said. The city itself centres on the modern Piazza Cavour, which opens onto the lake and divides the lakeside promenade into eastern and western sections. Several towers of the old fortifications survive, notably the Tower of Porta Vittoria (1192).
Como can be used to introduce a conditional clause in circumstances where we want to emphasize the gravity of the potential consequence. When we want to give some examples to illustrate what we’re talking about, we can introduce them with como. This expression is less formal than using por ejemplo, which translates literally as for example.
In this construction, the verb in the como clause needs to be conjugated in the subjunctive, since the veracity of that statement is not certain. Note that this can be used both when you didn’t hear or understand what was said, and when you don’t think you heard right because the statement doesn’t make sense to you. You know when someone says something to you and you’re not sure you heard them right? Cómo is commonly used as an exclamation or interjection, whether on its own or as part of a bigger statement.
REGIONAL TRANSLATIONS
The 13th-century Cluniac monastery of Piona surrounds the 11th-century church of San Nicola and its beautiful Romanesque cloister. This small enclosure is surrounded by delicate, graceful columns, each with a different stone capital carved in motifs that include plants and animals. Il Giardino della Valle is a free botanical garden along a stream, with pools and sculptures. Cernobbio is the starting point for a narrow, winding road up 1,310-meter Monte Bisbino to a pilgrimage church and panoramic views. The narrow and fjord-like Lake Como (Lago di Como in Italian) is 50 kilometers long and shaped like an inverted Y. The prominent, white Neoclassical building on the lake is the Tempio Voltiano, a museum commemorating Alessandro Volta, the local resident whose name is given to the electric volt.
There is a large grassy area here for sunbathing and a pool for children. You can also hire bikes should you want to cycle along the promenade instead. Como’s cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta – Duomo di Como) is its most important religious building and the third largest in the whole of Lombardy region. Construction began in 1396 but wasn’t completed until late in the 18th century. Scenically located on the Italian/Swiss border at the southern end of Lake Como, Como is a charming destination that welcomes visitors all year round. Its elegant old town – enclosed by 12th-century fortress walls – is steeped in history and abundant in medieval architecture.
So you should really consider your overall itinerary when choosing what to prioritize. You can find more info about these museums on the official website of the city. Alessandro Volta – the Italian physicist who invented the electric battery – may be Como’s most famous son. The Volta Temple (Tempio Voltiano) was built in his honor in 1927; 100 years after his death. It is an excellent example of Romanesque military architecture – huge in scale, impossible to breach, and with four rows of arches on the inner wall. 40 meters high, Porta Torre was originally part of the city wall itself but is now free-standing.
His invention of the electric battery in 1800 created the first source of continuous electrical current. Built in 1927 to commemorate the centennial of Volta’s death, the museum contains equipment used in his research. Also, because it’s a bigger city with more options, accommodation here tends to be a bit cheaper compared to the smaller prime towns on Lake Como such as Bellagio or Varenna. Still don’t expect ‘budget’ prices in the high season – Lake Como is not a cheap destination.