View source for Lake Como

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{{short description|Lake in Lombardy, Italy}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Como Lake|Lario|the Italian actress|Veronica Lario|other uses|Como Lake (disambiguation)|and|Lake Como (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Lake Como
| native_name        = {{native name list |tag1=it|name1=Lago di Como |tag2=lmo|name2=Lagh de Comm}}
| image              = Sentiero del Viandante DSC 6340 (14020554463).jpg
| caption            = Panoramic view of Lake Como with the [[Alps]] and [[Bellagio (Italian region)|Bellagio]]
| image_bathymetry   = Lago di Como.png
| caption_bathymetry = Bathymetric map
| location           = [[Lombardy]], [[Italy]]
| pushpin_map        = Alps#Italy#Italy Lombardy
| coords             = {{coord|46|00|N|9|16|E|region:IT_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type               = [[Glacial lake]]
| inflow             = [[Adda (river)|Adda]], [[Mera (Lake Como)|Mera]]
| outflow            = [[Adda (river)|Adda]]
| catchment          = {{cvt|4509|km2}}<ref name=iii/>
| basin_countries    = Italy, Switzerland
| length             = {{cvt|46|km}}
| width              = {{cvt|4.5|km}}
| area               = {{cvt|146|km2}}
| depth              = {{cvt|154|m}}<ref name=iii/>
| max-depth          = {{cvt|425|m}}
| volume             = {{convert|22.5|km3|e6acre.ft|abbr=unit}}
| residence_time     = 5.5 years<ref name=iii/>
| shore              = {{cvt|160|km}}
| elevation          = {{cvt|198|m}}<ref name=iii/>
| islands            = [[Isola Comacina]]
| cities             = [[Como]], [[Lecco]] (see [[#Notable towns and villages|section]])
| reference          = <ref name=iii>{{cite web|title=Laghi italiani|publisher=Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia|url=http://www.iii.to.cnr.it/limnol/cicloac/lagit.htm|access-date=2006-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205043503/http://www.iii.to.cnr.it/limnol/cicloac/lagit.htm|archive-date=2010-02-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

'''Lake Como''',{{efn|{{langx|it|Lago di Como}} {{IPA|it|ˈlaːɡo di ˈkɔːmo|}}, {{IPA|it|- ˈkoːmo|local}}; {{langx|lmo|label=[[Western Lombard]]|Lagh de Comm}} {{IPA|lmo|ˈlɑː‿dːe ˈkɔm|}}, {{lang|lmo|Cómm}} {{IPA|lmo|- ˈkom|}} or {{lang|lmo|Cùmm}} {{IPA|lmo|- ˈkum|}}.}} also known as '''Lario''',{{efn|{{IPA|it|ˈlaːrjo|lang}}; after the {{langx|la|Larius Lacus}}.}} is a lake of [[glacial lake|glacial origin]] in [[Lombardy]], Italy. It has an area of {{convert|146|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, making it the third-largest lake in Italy, after [[Lake Garda]] and [[Lake Maggiore]]. At over {{convert|400|m}} deep, it is one of the [[List of lakes by depth|deepest lakes in Europe]]. Its characteristic "Y" shape resulted from the movement of the ancient [[Adda (river)|Adda]] glacier, which was diverted by the mountainous terrain and carved the three branches.

Located at the foot of the [[Alps]], Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocracy and the wealthy since Roman times, and a major tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. The homonymous city was named Novum Comum by consul [[Julius Caesar]] in 59 BC. Its shores are dotted with numerous [[Villa|villas]] and palaces, such as [[Villa Olmo]], [[Villa Serbelloni]], and [[Villa Carlotta]], known for their historic architecture and elaborate gardens. The mild, humid climate, influenced by the lake, supports a diverse range of subtropical plants as well as traditional Mediterranean crops like olives. The surrounding mountains host typical Alpine flora and fauna. A significant religious site is the [[Sacro Monte di Ossuccio]], a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].

Lake Como's strategic location facilitated trade during the Roman era and subsequent periods, but also made it a site of conflict through the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The area became renowned for its [[silk|silk industry]] in the 19th and 20th centuries, contributing to the region's prosperity. Today, the economy relies heavily on tourism, manufacturing, and craftsmanship. However, the lake's popularity has led to significant challenges related to [[overtourism]], impacting local infrastructure, environment, and communities. Lake Como remains an important cultural reference, featuring in literature, film, and music.

==Etymology and nomenclature==
The lake's ancient Latin name was ''Larius Lacus''. [[William Smith (lexicographer)|William Smith]] suggests the name ''Larius'' is derived from a pre-Roman root ''*lar-'' meaning "hollow place".<ref name="SmithLarius">{{cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=larius-lacus-geo |title=Larius Lacus - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography |last=Smith |first=William |date=1854 |website=Perseus Digital Library |access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> ''Lacus'' means "lake".

During the Middle Ages, the name ''Lario'' continued to appear, particularly in official and ecclesiastical documents, sometimes rendered as {{lang|it|Lago di Lario}} in local chronicles.<ref name="LarioComoBoat">{{cite web |url=https://lariocomoboat.it/lago-di-como/lago-di-como-o-di-lario-un-viaggio-tra-storia-e-leggenda/ |title=Lago di Como o di Lario? Un viaggio tra storia e leggenda |website=Lario Como Boat |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=Italian |archive-date=23 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523201531/https://lariocomoboat.it/lago-di-como/lago-di-como-o-di-lario-un-viaggio-tra-storia-e-leggenda/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, starting in late antiquity, the name linked to the principal city, [[Como]] (Latin: ''Comum''), gradually gained prominence, especially in everyday and commercial use. This alternative name, ''Lacus Comacinus'' or ''Comacenus'' (Lake of Como), is found in sources like the [[Antonine Itinerary]] and works by [[Paul the Deacon]].<ref name="SmithLarius"/><ref name="LarioComoBoat"/>

The Renaissance saw a resurgence of interest in the classical name ''Lario'' among scholars and cartographers, fuelled by the rediscovery of ancient texts. Maps from this era often displayed both {{lang|it|Lago di Lario}} and {{lang|it|Lago di Como}}, reflecting the dual naming convention and a growing appreciation for the region's history.<ref name="LarioComoBoat"/>

Today, while ''Lario'' persists in cultural, literary, and historical references, and survives in the names of several lakeside towns (such as [[Gera Lario]], [[Pognana Lario]], and [[Mandello del Lario]]), the name most commonly used by Italians and recognized internationally, particularly within the tourism sector, is {{lang|it|Lago di Como}}.<ref name="LarioComoBoat"/><ref name="SmithLarius"/>

==Geography and geology==
Lake Como is situated in the [[Lombardy]] region of Northern Italy, at the southern end of the Alps, about 45 km north of [[Milan]]. Geologically, it lies within the Southern [[Alps]], specifically the Lombardic Basin, an area shaped by a complex history of tectonic activity and surface processes.<ref name="Scardia2020">{{cite journal |last1=Scardia |first1=G. |last2=Muttoni |first2=G. |last3=Sciunnach |first3=D. |title=Geological context and evolution of Lake Como basin (Southern Alps, N Italy) |journal=Swiss Journal of Geosciences |date=2020 |volume=113 |issue=1 |pages=12 |doi=10.1186/s00015-020-00361-7 |doi-access=free |issn=1661-8726 |eissn=1661-8734|hdl=20.500.11850/421467 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The region experienced significant [[rifting]] during the [[Mesozoic Era]] followed by compressional forces during the [[Alpine orogeny]] in the [[Cenozoic Era]], related to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. This compression phase, particularly activity along major fault systems near the [[Periadriatic Seam]] (like the Insubric Line), influenced the landscape's structure.<ref name="Scardia2020"/> The lake basin is primarily carved into Mesozoic carbonate rocks (limestones and marls such as the [[Moltrasio Formation|Moltrasio Limestone]]) overlying a deeper crystalline basement.<ref name="Scardia2020"/><ref name="AttardoComoGeology">{{cite book |title=Indagine geologico-tecnica di supporto al PRUG |author=Studio Attardo |year=2002 |publisher=Comune di Como |pages=670–718 |language=Italian}}</ref> Later Cenozoic sediments, notably the [[Clastic rock|Gonfolite Group]] (Oligocene-Miocene), represent deposits from large submarine fans fed by rivers eroding the nascent Alps.<ref name="PoliMI_Geology">{{citation |title=Il lago di Como, origine fluviale ma morfologia glaciale |work=ArchaeoGEW - Il WebGIS archeologico della Spina Verde di Como |publisher=Politecnico di Milano (contribution/source) |language=Italian}}</ref>

While often described simply as a [[glacial lake]], Lake Como's basin results from combined [[fluvial]] erosion and deep glacial scouring acting upon a pre-existing, structurally controlled valley network.<ref name="Scardia2020"/> A crucial pre-conditioning event was the [[Messinian salinity crisis]] in the late [[Miocene]] (around 5.96–5.33 million years ago), when the [[Mediterranean Sea]] nearly dried up. This caused Alpine rivers, like the paleo-Adda, to carve extremely deep canyons into the landscape, well below current sea level, as they adjusted to the dramatically lowered base level.<ref name="Scardia2020"/> These canyons were subsequently partially filled with sediments during the [[Zanclean flood]] and [[Pliocene]] epoch, but the deeply incised valley system persisted.<ref name="Scardia2020"/>

During the [[Quaternary Period]]'s repeated glaciations, large glaciers originating mainly from the Adda valley flowed southwards, following and intensely modifying this pre-existing river valley system.<ref name="PoliMI_Geology"/><ref name="Scardia2020"/> These powerful glaciers significantly widened the valleys into a characteristic [[U-shaped valley|U-shape]] and eroded the basin much deeper than the previous river canyons, creating the lake's remarkable depth, over {{convert|400|m}}, and overdeepening—its bottom lies over {{convert|200|m}} below sea level.<ref name="Scardia2020"/>

[[File:Aerial photographs 2010-by-RaBoe-47.jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph showing Lake Como's characteristic three-branched shape, with the Alps to the north]]
Lake Como's distinctive shape, resembling an inverted letter "[[Y]]", is a direct result of this geological history. The main glacial flow followed the path of the pre-existing river valley down the northern arm and the southwestern (Como) arm. Glacial erosion eventually breached the mountainous barrier between [[Bellagio (Italian region)|Bellagio]] and [[Varenna]], diverting the main ice flow (and subsequently the Adda river) into the pre-existing valley forming the southeastern branch.<ref name="PoliMI_Geology"/><ref name="Scardia2020"/> The promontory of Bellagio separates the two southern branches at this confluence point, shaped by differential glacial erosion.<ref name="Scardia2020"/> As the glaciers retreated during the [[Last Glacial Maximum]] and subsequent phases, they deposited large [[moraine]] systems, particularly south of the lake, forming the hilly landscape of the [[Brianza]] region.<ref name="PoliMI_Geology"/><ref name="AttardoComoGeology"/>
The mountainous region between the Como and Lecco branches (between the cities of Como, Bellagio, and Lecco) is known as the Larian Triangle ({{lang|it|Triangolo lariano}}).{{efn|The meaning of ''Larian'' is related to Lake Como, from the Latin name ''Larius''.}} It is the source of the [[Lambro]] river. [[Canzo]] is the chief town of the local ''[[Mountain community in Italy|Comunità Montana del Triangolo Lariano]]''.

===Hydrology===
The primary inflow for Lake Como is the [[Adda (river)|Adda River]], which enters the lake near [[Colico]] on the northern branch, having been diverted from its pre-glacial course by glacial action.<ref name="PoliMI_Geology"/> The [[Mera (Lake Como)|Mera River]] also forms a major inflow at the northern end. The Adda is also the sole major outflow, exiting from the southeastern branch.<ref name="Scardia2020"/> This hydrological arrangement leaves the southwestern branch as a cul-de-sac with no major outlets, making the city of Como historically more susceptible to flooding than Lecco.<ref name="Scardia2020"/>

The lake's water balance is dominated by these river flows, with precipitation on the lake surface and evaporation playing secondary roles.<ref name="Galia2021">{{cite journal |last1=Galia |first1=T. |last2=Acquaotta |first2=F. |last3=Fratianni |first3=S. |last4=Gazzena |first4=L. |last5=Negri |first5=S. |title=Water Temperature Trends and Surface Heat Fluxes in Lake Como (Northern Italy) |journal=Climate |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=8 |date=2021 |doi=10.3390/cli9010008 |doi-access=free |issn=2225-1154 |hdl=11311/1179641 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> With a large volume of approximately {{convert|22.5|km3}}, Lake Como has a [[Lake retention time|residence time]] estimated at 5.5 years.<ref name=iii/> Lake Como is a deep lake exhibiting strong seasonal thermal stratification. It is classified as warm [[Monomictic lake|monomictic]], meaning its waters typically mix fully from surface to bottom only once per year, during late winter (usually February-March) when surface waters cool sufficiently to sink.<ref name="Galia2021"/> This annual mixing is crucial for transporting oxygen to the deep waters. During summer, the lake develops a distinct warm surface layer ([[epilimnion]]), separated from the cold, deep [[hypolimnion]] (where temperatures remain around 6–7 °C year-round) by a sharp transition zone known as the [[thermocline]] (or metalimnion).<ref name="Galia2021"/> Water circulation within the lake is influenced significantly by [[Wind#Local_winds|local winds]], particularly the regular diurnal breezes: the {{lang|it|Breva}} blowing from the south in the afternoon and the {{lang|it|Tivano}} from the north in the morning, which drive surface currents.<ref name="Galia2021"/> Water levels fluctuate seasonally depending on inflows from snowmelt and rainfall, and are regulated by the dam at [[Olginate]] on the Adda river outflow.<ref name="Galia2021"/>

==Ecology==

===Flora===
The mild, humid climate influenced by the lake supports a rich diversity of plant life characteristic of the [[Insubria]] region.<ref name="CMVLC_FloraFauna">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmalpilepontine.it/cmvlarcer/zf/index.php/servizi-aggiuntivi/index/index/idtesto/12 |title=Flora e Fauna |website=Comunità Montana Valli del Lario e del Ceresio |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=Italian |archive-date=15 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715101923/http://www.cmalpilepontine.it/cmvlarcer/zf/index.php/servizi-aggiuntivi/index/index/idtesto/12 |url-status=live }}</ref> Along the immediate shores and lower slopes, [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] species like [[Olea europaea|olive trees]] (historically cultivated, evidenced by names like Oliveto Lario), [[Laurus nobilis|laurel]], [[Myrtus|myrtle]], and [[Cupressus|cypress]] thrive. The villa gardens famously cultivate exotic subtropical plants alongside native species.<ref name=CMVLC_FloraFauna/><ref name="ImpellusoGardens"/> Vegetation is strongly zoned by altitude: foothills (up to 800 m) are dominated by mixed deciduous forests of [[Quercus|oak]] (including [[Quercus pubescens|downy oak]] on drier slopes), [[Castanea sativa|chestnut]], [[Carpinus|hornbeam]], [[Fraxinus ornus|manna ash]], and [[Populus|poplar]]. Higher elevations transition to [[Fagus sylvatica|beech]] forests and then extensive [[conifer]] forests (including [[Abies alba|silver fir]], [[Picea abies|spruce]], [[Larix|larch]], and [[Pinus mugo|mountain pine]]). The highest altitudes feature alpine meadows and shrublands with [[Juniperus|juniper]], [[Rhododendron]], [[Vaccinium myrtillus|bilberry]], and [[Alnus alnobetula|green alder]].<ref name=CMVLC_FloraFauna/> The area hosts several [[Endemism|endemic]] plant species, particularly on limestone substrates, such as ''[[Campanula raineri]]'' and ''[[Primula|Primula glaucescens]]''.<ref name=CMVLC_FloraFauna/> True [[aquatic plant|aquatic vegetation]] is relatively scarce due to the steep, deep nature of the shores, mostly confined to shallower areas like the northern {{lang|it|[[Riserva Naturale Pian di Spagna e Lago di Mezzola|Piano di Spagna]]}} nature reserve.<ref name=CMVLC_FloraFauna/>

===Fauna===
The varied habitats support diverse fauna. Larger mammals in the surrounding mountains and forests include [[red deer]], [[roe deer]], and [[chamois]], along with [[wild boar]] and [[Vulpes|red foxes]].<ref name=CMVLC_FloraFauna/> [[Avifauna|Birdlife]] is abundant, featuring common forest species and birds of prey like the [[common buzzard]] and [[hawks]]. The lake itself is a vital habitat for [[waterfowl]], especially during migration and wintering. Numerous species of [[Anatidae|ducks]], [[Podicipedidae|grebes]], [[Cygnus (bird)|swans]], [[Laridae|gulls]], and [[Phalacrocoracidae|cormorants]] are present. [[Ardeidae|Herons]], particularly the [[grey heron]], are common residents, favouring quieter stretches of shoreline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quicomo.it/social/lago-di-como-regno-aironi.html |title=Lago di Como, il regno degli aironi |website=QuiComo |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=Italian}}</ref>

Lake Como hosts over 25 fish species.<ref name=NicolarattiFauna>{{cite web |url=http://web.tiscali.it/nicolaratti/embolo/fauna.htm |title=Fauna del Lago di Como |website=web.tiscali.it/nicolaratti |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=Italian |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220222421/http://web.tiscali.it/nicolaratti/embolo/fauna.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to its great depth and limited shallow [[littoral zone]]s, [[pelagic zone|pelagic]] species are dominant. These include the native [[Coregonus|whitefishes]] – locally known as {{lang|it|[[Coregonus lavaretus|lavarello]]}} (common whitefish) and {{lang|it|bondella}} ([[Coregonus wartmanni|blue whitefish]]) – and the shad {{lang|it|[[Alosa agone|agone]]}}. These fish, feeding primarily on [[zooplankton]], form the basis of the lake's traditional commercial fishery and local cuisine (e.g., {{lang|it|[[Alosa agone|missoltino]]}}).{{cn|date=August 2025}} [[Trout]] species also inhabit the deeper waters. The more limited littoral zones support populations of [[Perca fluviatilis|European perch]], [[Esox|northern pike]] (less common due to scarcity of vegetated shallows), [[Tinca tinca|tench]], [[Squalius cephalus|chub]], [[Rutilus rutilus|roach]], and [[Cyprinus carpio|common carp]].<ref name=NicolarattiFauna/> The [[burbot]] (''Lota lota'') is a native bottom-dwelling predator.<ref name=NicolarattiFauna/> Several [[introduced species]] have established populations, some becoming invasive. These include the [[Lepomis gibbosus|pumpkinseed sunfish]], large predatory catfish like the [[Silurus glanis|wels catfish]], and invertebrates such as the [[Dreissena polymorpha|zebra mussel]] and the aggressive [[Procambarus clarkii|red swamp crayfish]], which pose ecological challenges.<ref name=NicolarattiFauna/>

==Climate==
{{see also|Italian Lakes#Climate}}

According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Lake Como experiences a [[humid subtropical climate]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rubel |first1=Franz |last2=Kottek |first2=Markus |last3=Grieser |first3=Jürgen |last4=Beck |first4=Christian |last5=Rudolf |first5=Bart |last6=Mieczkowski |first6=Stanley |title=Köppen-Geiger climate classification revised: Present and future climates |journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift |volume=15 |issue=3 |date=June 2006 |pages=259–286 |doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0507 |doi-broken-date=1 July 2025 |issn=0941-2948 |eissn=1610-1227}}</ref> The average temperature in the surrounding region fluctuates from {{cvt|4|C|0}} in January to {{cvt|25|C|0}} in July.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/y/62658/Average-Weather-in-Como-Italy-Year-Round|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Average Weather in Como|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313045554/https://weatherspark.com/y/62658/Average-Weather-in-Como-Italy-Year-Round|url-status=live}}</ref> The water temperature reaches an average of {{cvt|26|C|0}} in July, making it pleasant for water activities during the summer months.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://seatemperature.info/july/lake-como-water-temperature.html|title=Water temperature in Lake Como in July|publisher=Seatemperature.info |access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>

The climate around Lake Como features distinct seasonal variations. During winter, the lake exerts a moderating influence, helping to maintain a mild average temperature of {{cvt|7|C}} in the nearby area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/s/62658/2023/3/Historical-Weather-Winter-2023-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather in Winter 2023 in Como|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313062222/https://weatherspark.com/h/s/62658/2023/3/Historical-Weather-Winter-2023-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref> Snowfall is erratic and generally confined to higher elevations, while occasional periods of frost can occur due to the influence of the [[Siberian High|Siberian Anticyclone]].

Spring and autumn are typically mild and agreeable transitional seasons, with average daytime temperatures around {{cvt|17|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/s/62658/2023/0/Historical-Weather-Spring-2023-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather in Spring 2023 in Como}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/s/62658/2023/2/Historical-Weather-Fall-2023-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather in Fall 2023 in Como}}</ref> Precipitation tends to be more frequent during these periods.

Summer days are generally warm, with average daytime temperatures exceeding {{cvt|27|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/s/62658/2023/1/Historical-Weather-Summer-2023-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather in Summer 2023 in Como|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313062220/https://weatherspark.com/h/s/62658/2023/1/Historical-Weather-Summer-2023-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref> [[2024 European heatwaves|Heatwaves]] have become more common in recent years, occasionally bringing temperatures as high as {{cvt|38|C}} and leading to hot, humid conditions. This season is also subject to thunderstorms and, at times, violent [[hail]]storms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quicomo.it/cronaca/como-provincia-nubifragio-allagamenti-grandine-foto-.html|title=Nubifragio, raffiche di vento a 100 km/h, grandine come palline da golf|publisher=quicomo.it |access-date=March 6, 2024|language=it}}</ref>

===Impact of climate change===

Historically, winters in the Lake Como region were characterized by significant snowfall and cold temperatures, with average daily temperatures in January and February often falling below freezing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/m/62658/1987/2/Historical-Weather-in-February-1987-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather in February 1987 in Como|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313050820/https://weatherspark.com/h/m/62658/1987/2/Historical-Weather-in-February-1987-in-Como-Italy#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref> However, due to [[global warming]], average winter temperatures have progressively increased since the beginning of the 21st century. A record high of {{cvt|21|C}} was recorded on January 27, 2024,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148114/2024/1/27/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-January-27-2024-at-Milano-Malpensa-Airport-Italy#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313042717/https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148114/2024/1/27/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-January-27-2024-at-Milano-Malpensa-Airport-Italy#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.informazione.it/a/3BEAEF18-4306-44A2-80D5-F9566BA80A18/Caldo-Natale-sul-lago-di-Como-il-termometro-sfiora-i-20-gradi-colpa-del-Foehn|title=Caldo Natale sul lago di Como, il termometro sfiora i 20 gradi: colpa del Foehn|date=25 December 2023 |publisher=informazione.it|access-date=March 6, 2024|language=it|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313045555/https://www.informazione.it/a/3BEAEF18-4306-44A2-80D5-F9566BA80A18/Caldo-Natale-sul-lago-di-Como-il-termometro-sfiora-i-20-gradi-colpa-del-Foehn|url-status=live}}</ref> reflecting this warming trend. Similarly, summers, once known for their pleasant climate, have experienced [[Climate change in Italy|rising average temperatures]] since the 2010s. Severe weather events, such as intense rainstorms and hailstorms, previously infrequent, have become increasingly common, impacting the region's climate patterns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/31/climate/italy-floods-milan-lake-como-venice-climate-intl/index.html|publisher=CNN|title=Lake Como bursts its banks as violent storm pounds Northern Italy|date=31 October 2023|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313072620/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/31/climate/italy-floods-milan-lake-como-venice-climate-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-environment-and-nature-storms-c45405d3845b046436dcf4b8b6ea00ea|publisher=Associated Press|title=Lake Como towns hit by extreme weather|date=27 July 2021|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313073327/https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-environment-and-nature-storms-c45405d3845b046436dcf4b8b6ea00ea|url-status=live}}</ref>

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| year record high F =
| year record high C = <!-- Record high dates for verification, using both official data from Milan Malpensa airport and Lugano Airport:
25 Jan 2024 and 27 Jan 2024
24 Feb 2021 and 24 Feb 2022
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27 Jun 2019
22 Jul 2022
24 Aug 2023
06 Sep 2022
16 Oct 2017
10 Nov 2015
23 Dec 2023 -->

<!-- Average high temperatures -->| Jan high F =
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| Jun high F =
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| Jul high F =
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| Jan low F =
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| Feb low F =
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| Mar low F =
| Mar low C = 4
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| Apr low C = 7
| May low F =
| May low C = 12
| Jun low F =
| Jun low C = 16
| Jul low F =
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| Jan record low F =
| Jan record low C = -18
| Feb record low F =
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| Mar record low F =
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| Apr record low F =
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| Jun record low F =
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| Jul record low F =
| Jul record low C = 7
| Aug record low F =
| Aug record low C = 5
| Sep record low F =
| Sep record low C = 4
| Oct record low F =
| Oct record low C = -3
| Nov record low F =
| Nov record low C = -9
| Dec record low F =
| Dec record low C = -10
| year record low F =
| year record low C = <!-- Record-low dates for verification, using both official data from Milan Malpensa airport and Lugano Airport:
11 Jan 1985
02 Feb 1987
21 Mar 1987
02 Apr 1987
01 May 1984
01 Jun 1980
04 Jul 1979
25 Aug 1979
19 Sep 1994
23 Oct 1981
24 Nov 1988 Lugano airport reports -6 While Milan Malpensa airport reports -13 so i made an average
20 Dec 1990 -->

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| precip days colour = <!-- Enter "green" for green colours, "pastel" for pastel colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. Affects rain and snow days as well -->
| Jan precipitation days = 9
| Feb precipitation days = 8
| Mar precipitation days = 10
| Apr precipitation days = 12
| May precipitation days = 13
| Jun precipitation days = 11
| Jul precipitation days = 8
| Aug precipitation days = 9
| Sep precipitation days = 8
| Oct precipitation days = 10
| Nov precipitation days = 11
| Dec precipitation days = 9
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<!-- If entering the average daily % humidity, then the humidex table should be used. -->| humidity colour =
| time day = <!-- The time of day the humidity was measured at. Affects afternoon % humidity as well -->
| daily = Y
| Jan humidity = 84
| Feb humidity = 76
| Mar humidity = 69
| Apr humidity = 74
| May humidity = 72
| Jun humidity = 71
| Jul humidity = 73
| Aug humidity = 72
| Sep humidity = 74
| Oct humidity = 81
| Nov humidity = 85
| Dec humidity = 86
| year humidity = <!-- Average monthly sunshine hours, monthly totals are preferred, and will produce colours, but percentages are accepted. -->
| Jan sun = 59
| Feb sun = 97
| Mar sun = 151
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| May sun = 209
| Jun sun = 242
| Jul sun = 285
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| Oct sun = 129
| Nov sun = 65
| Dec sun = 58
| year sun = <!-- Average daily UV index -->
| Jan uv = 1
| Feb uv = 2
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| source = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148117/2023/12/23/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-December-23-2023-at-Lugano-Airport-Switzerland#Figures-Temperature|publisher=weatherspark.com|title=Historical Weather|access-date=March 13, 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313034358/https://weatherspark.com/h/d/148117/2023/12/23/Historical-Weather-on-Saturday-December-23-2023-at-Lugano-Airport-Switzerland#Figures-Temperature|url-status=live}}</ref>
| source 2 = <ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/italy/como-climate |title=Como Climate |publisher=Weather-atlas.com |access-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615110809/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/italy/como-climate |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==History==

===Antiquity===
The area around Lake Como has been inhabited since prehistoric times, although the first significant settlement, ''Comum'', emerged during the [[Iron Age Europe|Iron Age]] (first millennium BC), embedded within the broader [[Golasecca culture]]. Its strategic position between the northern regions and the [[Po Valley]] made it important early on.<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.larioonline.it/lake-como/Origins%20of%20the%20lake%20Como |title=Origins of the lake Como |website=LakeComo Italy: lake Como travel guide |access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> In 196 BC, the Roman army under Consul [[Marcus Claudius Marcellus|Claudius Marcellus]] conquered the area from the [[Celts|Celtic]] ''Comenses''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Livy |title=Ab Urbe Condita |chapter=XXXIII, 22}}</ref> The settlement was fortified after raids by [[Rhaetian people|Rhaetian tribes]]. Under Roman rule, the area became a key strategic outpost. The Romans constructed the ''Via Regina'', a vital road connecting the lake (''Larius,'' as they called it) with the [[Rhaetia|Rhaetian region]] to the north and serving as an important trade route between the Po Valley and the Rhine Valley under Emperor [[Augustus]].<ref name="UltissimoHistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.ultissimo.com/history-lake-como/ |title=The History of Lake Como - from Ice Age to 20th century |website=Ultissimo |date=14 February 2018 |access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref><ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/> Tradesmen frequently crossed the Alps via this route into present-day Switzerland.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> In 77 BC, 3,000 Roman settlers repopulated the area. A pivotal moment came in 59 BC when, under [[Julius Caesar]], the town was drained of marshland and re-established on its current lakeside location as ''[[Novum Comum]]''. Caesar populated it with an additional 5,000 colonists.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/><ref>{{cite web |title=COMO HISTORY |url=https://lakecomotravel.com/como-history/ |website=lakecomotravel.com |access-date=26 April 2023 |archive-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426084040/https://lakecomotravel.com/como-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During this period, Como hosted notable figures like [[Pliny the Elder]] and [[Pliny the Younger]]. The latter depicted the lake in his ''[[Epistulae (Pliny)|Epistulae]]'' as a haven for study, hunting, and fishing.<ref>{{cite book |author=Pliny the Younger|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plin.+Ep.+2.8|title=Epistulae II.8}}</ref> The influential ''[[Comacine masters|Magistri Comacini]]'', a guild of skilled builders, stonecutters, and decorators, originated during this era and developed a reputation for fine craftsmanship throughout Europe.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> By the 4th century AD, the ''[[Notitia Dignitatum]]'' confirms the presence of a Roman military fleet commanded by a ''[[Praefectus]]'' stationed on the lake, underscoring its continued military importance.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brogiolo |first1=Gian Pietro |last2=Gelichi |first2=Sauro |title=Nuove ricerche sui castelli altomedievali in Italia settentrionale |trans-title=New research on early medieval castles in northern Italy |date=1996 |publisher=All'Insegna del Giglio |language=it |location=Firenze |page=40 |isbn=978-8878141070 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HH1oAAAAMAAJ |access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref>

===Medieval and Foreign Rule===
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Como flourished but its wealth attracted invasions from [[Goths]] and [[Huns]], who imposed heavy taxes.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> In 774 AD, the city was freed by the [[Lombards]] and continued to develop.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> During the Lombard rule, the Via Regina was reopened and restored by Queen [[Theodolinda]].<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/> Around 1000 AD, Como became an independent [[Italian city-states|commune]] but soon had to contend with the expansionist ambitions of [[Milan]].<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/> Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the lake remained strategically vital, allowing access to the [[Maloja Pass|Maloja]] and [[Stelvio Pass]] and becoming a stage for military conflicts.<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/> In the 12th century, during the [[war of Milan against Como]], Como's fleet fought naval battles against Milanese forces.<ref>{{cite book |last=Romanoni |first=Fabio |title=La guerra d'acqua dolce. Navi e conflitti medievali nell'Italia settentrionale |date=2023 |publisher=Clueb |location=Bologna |isbn=978-88-31365-53-6 |pages=108–109 |url=https://www.academia.edu/100479472 |access-date=26 April 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708194804/https://www.academia.edu/100479472 |url-status=live }}</ref> Como's famous defensive towers, still visible today, were constructed under Holy Roman Emperor [[Frederick Barbarossa]] between 1158 and 1162, marking a temporary end to Milanese dominance.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> Power later passed to Milanese families, notably the [[House of Visconti|Visconti]] and the [[House of Sforza|Sforza]].<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/> Many of Como's historic churches, including San Carpoforo, Sant'Abbondio, San Fedele, San Giacomo, and San Provino, date from this period.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> The Milanese lords considered widening the [[Adda (river)|Adda]] riverbed and initiated the Paderno Canal project to link the lake with Milan.<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/><ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> Later, between 1525 and 1532, the lake was the scene of the [[Musso War|Musso war]], initiated by [[Gian Giacomo Medici]]. Como subsequently experienced periods of decline under Spanish and French rule, marked by harsh taxes.<ref name="LarioOnlineHistory"/><ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> Conditions improved under Austrian rule, particularly during the reign of [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles VI]], when taxes were reduced, allowing Como to flourish again.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> The city's famous [[Como Cathedral|Duomo]], designed by [[Filippo Juvarra]],{{efn|Some sources mention Fontana, but Juvarra is more commonly credited with the dome design.}} was largely constructed during this period, and the renowned physicist [[Alessandro Volta]], inventor of the electric battery, was born in Como in 1745.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon]] ruled the area briefly from 1796 to 1815, before Austrian control was restored following the [[Congress of Vienna]].<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> In 1825, [[Alessandro Manzoni]] published his famous novel ''[[The Betrothed]]'', set partly in Lecco during the oppressive Spanish rule of 1628 and depicting the devastating [[Italian Plague of 1629–1631|plague of 1630]]. During this plague, the isolated peninsula of Bellagio reportedly avoided infection and supplied bread to nearby Varenna, leaving it on a large lakeside boulder ({{lang|it|sasso del pane}}) in exchange for money disinfected in vinegar.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> Throughout these often difficult times, local inhabitants relied on fishing, {{lang|it|polenta}}, cheese-making, and smuggling across the nearby Swiss border for survival.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/>

===Modern Era===
In 1859, following [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]'s victory over the Austrians at the [[Battle of San Fermo]], Lake Como became part of the newly forming Kingdom of Italy under the [[House of Savoy]].<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> The late 18th and 19th centuries brought peace and prosperity, fueled by the burgeoning [[Silk|silk industry]], which gained world renown.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> This era saw the construction of many opulent lakeside villas and summer retreats by wealthy Milanese families seeking respite from the city's heat. Notable examples include [[Villa Olmo]], [[Villa Serbelloni]], [[Villa Carlotta]], [[Villa del Balbianello]], [[Villa Melzi d'Eril|Villa Melzi]], and [[Villa Monastero]].<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> The stunning scenery also attracted artists and writers, including [[Lord Byron|Byron]], [[William Wordsworth|Wordsworth]], [[Percy Bysshe Shelley|Shelley]], [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson|Tennyson]], [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow|Longfellow]], [[Franz Liszt|Liszt]], and [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]], who found inspiration by the lake.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> In the 20th century, Como maintained its reputation for silk and became a center for fabric design and furniture manufacturing, with [[Villa Erba]] hosting major exhibitions.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> Tourism briefly declined after World War II, partly due to the association with Mussolini's capture and death nearby.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/> Near the end of the war, in late April 1945, as Allied forces advanced, [[Benito Mussolini]] and his mistress [[Clara Petacci]] attempted to flee to Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theweek.com/93151/how-did-italy-s-fascist-dictator-benito-mussolini-die |title=How did Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini die? |website=The Week |date=24 April 2018 |access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> Their convoy was intercepted by Italian anti-fascist partisans near Dongo on the northwestern shore on April 27th. After being held overnight, Mussolini and Petacci were taken to the village of Giulino di Mezzegra. On April 28th, 1945, both were executed by the partisans against a wall at the entrance to Villa Belmonte.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/death-of-benito-mussolini |title=The Death of Benito Mussolini |website=The New Orleans National WWII Museum |date=28 April 2020 |access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> Their bodies were subsequently transported away from the lake region to Milan for public display. Today, Lake Como is again one of Italy's top tourist destinations, frequented by celebrities and visitors from around the world, yet striving to retain its historical charm and character.<ref name="UltissimoHistory"/>

==Cultural significance==
Lake Como's dramatic scenery, rich history, and association with culture and leisure have made it a significant landmark, inspiring artists and attracting visitors for centuries. Its cultural importance is evident in its historic villas, religious sites, local traditions, and its representation in the arts.

===Villas and gardens===
[[File:Villa Olmo en Como.jpg|thumb|Villa Olmo in Como, a neoclassical masterpiece]]
[[File:Villa Carlotta (Tremezzo) - DSC02504.JPG|thumb|Villa Carlotta, renowned for its botanical garden]]
[[File:Villa Balbianello on Como Lake 8.jpg|thumb|Villa del Balbianello, famous for its terraced gardens and film appearances]]
[[File:Villa Melzi (Bellagio) - DSC02854.JPG|thumb|right|Villa Melzi d'Eril in Bellagio, featuring an extensive park]]
[[File:View of Lake Como from Villa Monastero, Varenna.jpg|thumb|Lake Como vista from Villa Monastero, highlighting the lake's scenic beauty]]
Lake Como is globally celebrated for its exquisite [[villa]]s and their gardens, a tradition rooted in Roman times when [[Pliny the Younger]] established his ''Comedia'' and ''Tragedia'' estates as places of leisure ({{lang|la|otium}}) away from the city.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pliny the Younger|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plin.+Ep.+9.7|title=Epistulae IX.7}}</ref><ref name="ImpellusoGardens">{{cite book |last=Impelluso |first=Lucia |title=I giardini del Lago di Como |year=2018 |publisher=Mondadori Electa |isbn=978-8891814678 |language=Italian}}</ref> This concept faded during the Middle Ages but was revived during the Renaissance, with villas surrounded by productive gardens featuring orchards, olive groves, and citrus trees.<ref name="ImpellusoGardens"/> From the 17th century, gardens increasingly followed formal Italian and French designs (parterres, terraces, fountains).<ref name="ImpellusoGardens"/> The 19th century saw a major shift towards the [[English landscape garden]] style, favouring naturalistic designs where plants and landscape predominated.<ref name="ImpellusoGardens"/> The lake's mild microclimate allows diverse subtropical and Mediterranean plants to flourish.<ref name="ImpellusoGardens"/>

Notable examples include:
*   '''[[Villa Carlotta]]''': Built 1690, famous for its collection of [[Azalea|azaleas]] and [[Rhododendron|rhododendrons]], combining an Italian formal garden with a later Romantic park.<ref name="ImpellusoGardens"/> Houses sculptures by [[Antonio Canova]] and [[Luigi Acquisti]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.villacarlotta.it/en/the-museum/|title=Villa Carlotta - The Museum |website=Villa Carlotta Official Website |access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref>
*   '''[[Villa d'Este (Cernobbio)|Villa d'Este]]''': Built 1568 for a cardinal, later home to [[Caroline of Brunswick]]. Now a luxury hotel renowned for its Renaissance gardens and high-profile guests.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.villadeste.com/en/history/ |title=Villa d'Este - History |website=Villa d'Este Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref>
*   '''[[Villa del Balbianello]]''': Famous for its elaborate terraced gardens on a wooded peninsula. Built 1787 on a monastery site, later owned by explorer [[Guido Monzino]]. Now a popular museum and frequent filming location.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fondoambiente.it/villa-del-balbianello-eng |title=Villa del Balbianello |website=Fondo Ambiente Italiano |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.italiainunoscatto.it/en/lombardy/como/lenno/villa-balbianello |title=Villa del Balbianello: history and curiosities of the Star Wars villa on Lake Como |website=Italia in un Scatto |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref>
*   '''[[Villa Melzi d'Eril]]''': Built 1808–1810 in [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical style]] for the Vice-President of the Napoleonic Italian Republic. Features an extensive landscape park, orangery, chapel, and Japanese garden.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.villamelzi.it/en/the-villa/history/ |title=Villa Melzi d'Eril - History |website=Villa Melzi d'Eril Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.villamelzi.it/en/the-gardens/ |title=Villa Melzi d'Eril - The Gardens |website=Villa Melzi d'Eril Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref>
*   '''[[Villa Serbelloni]]''': Different from the nearby Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, this estate houses the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center. Its park offers panoramic views and covers grounds possibly including Pliny the Younger's ''Tragedia'' villa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center/ |title=Bellagio Center |website=Rockefeller Foundation Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bellagiolakecomo.com/en/bellagio-lake-como/villas/villa-serbelloni-park |title=Villa Serbelloni Park |website=Bellagio Lake Como Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref>
*   '''[[Villa Monastero]]''': Originally a Cistercian monastery, transformed into an eclectic villa with a notable botanical garden stretching along the lakefront.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.villamonastero.eu/en/history/ |title=Villa Monastero - History |website=Villa Monastero Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref>

===Sacro Monte di Ossuccio===
[[File:Sacro Monte di Ossuccio. Cappella 5. La Disputa di Gesù con i Dottori nel Tempio.JPG|thumb|right|Chapel 5 of Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, depicting the Disputation with the Doctors]]
The [[Sacro Monte di Ossuccio]] ({{lang|it|Sacred Mount of Ossuccio}}) is a Roman Catholic sanctuary located on a hillside slope above [[Ossuccio]], facing [[Isola Comacina]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacromonte-ossuccio.com/en/ |title=Sacro Monte di Ossuccio - Official Website |website=Sacro Monte di Ossuccio Official Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref>It is one of the nine [[Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy]], designated a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1068/ |title=Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203162044/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1068/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Built between 1635 and 1710, the complex consists of fifteen [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]]-style chapels spaced along a path leading up to a main sanctuary. The chapels, adorned with statues and frescoes, depict the [[Mysteries of the Rosary]] and offer pilgrims a devotional journey culminating at the sanctuary dedicated to the [[Coronation of the Virgin]].

===Lake Como in arts and culture===
[[File:Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1793-1867) - Lake Como - N00406 - National Gallery.jpg|thumb|''[[Lake Como (painting)|Lake Como]]'' by [[Clarkson Stanfield]], 1825]]
The lake's beauty has long inspired artists, writers, and musicians.
*   '''Literature:''' [[Pliny the Younger]] described his lakeside villas in the 1st century AD. Later writers captivated by the lake include [[Alessandro Manzoni]] (in ''The Betrothed''), [[Stendhal]] (whose ''[[La Chartreuse de Parme]]'' begins with a description inspired by Villa Carlotta), [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]], [[Mary Shelley]], [[Lord Byron]], [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]], and [[Mark Twain]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19061/19061-h/19061-h.htm |title=Seeing Europe with Famous Authors |publisher=Funk & Wagnells |year=1914 |editor-last=Halsey |editor-first=Francis W |editor-link=Francis Whiting Halsey |volume=VIII |access-date=25 April 2008 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200257/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19061/19061-h/19061-h.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In his 1869 travelogue ''[[The Innocents Abroad]]'', Twain described Como as lying "between mountains of stone" whose bases were "adorned with charming villas and gardens" rising from the water. While admiring the "graceful terraces," "marble statues," and "colourful flowers", he ultimately compared Lake Como unfavourably to the American [[Lake Tahoe]], declaring Tahoe offered a grander, more beautiful panorama devoid of the smaller scale, "toy villages" he perceived at Como.<ref name="TwainInnocents">{{cite web |url=https://www.online-literature.com/twain/innocents-abroad/20/ |title=The Innocents Abroad - Chapter 20 |last=Twain |first=Mark |website=The Literature Network |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413104351/https://www.online-literature.com/twain/innocents-abroad/20/ |archive-date=13 April 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MyLakeComoTwain">{{cite web |url=https://mylakecomo.co/en/books/mark-twain-on-lake-como/ |title=Mark Twain on Lake Como |website=My Lake Como |date=12 October 2016 |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415180629/https://mylakecomo.co/en/books/mark-twain-on-lake-como/ |archive-date=15 April 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]]'s 1837 poem ''The Lake of Como'' interprets a painting by [[Samuel Prout]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=39BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA50|section=picture|year=1836|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.|access-date=11 October 2022|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011152144/https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=39BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA50|url-status=live}}{{cite book|last=Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=39BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA53|section=poetical illustration|page=21|year=1836|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.|access-date=11 October 2022|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011152406/https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=39BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA53|url-status=live}}</ref>
*   '''Film:''' The scenic backdrop has featured in numerous films, including ''[[The Pleasure Garden (1925 film)|The Pleasure Garden]]'' (1925), ''[[Bobby Deerfield]]'' (1977), ''[[A Month by the Lake]]'' (1995), ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'' (2002), ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'' (2004),  ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006),<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505004632/https://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020903/index.html|archive-date=5 May 2008|date=3 September 2002|title=The Dharker Side: An Audience with Queen Jamillia|website=StarWars.com|publisher=Lucasfilm|url=http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020903/index.html |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref> <!-- Note: Original URL likely dead, relying on archive --><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.007.com/location-guide-casino-royale/ |title=Location Guide: Casino Royale |website=007.com Official James Bond Website |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref> and ''[[Murder Mystery (film)|Murder Mystery]]'' (2019).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hemmert |first1=Kylie |title=Sandler and Aniston's Netflix Movie Murder Mystery Begins Filming |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/960785-sandler-and-anistons-netflix-movie-murder-mystery-begins-filming |access-date=July 27, 2018 |work=ComingSoon.net |date=July 26, 2018 |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627021553/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/960785-sandler-and-anistons-netflix-movie-murder-mystery-begins-filming |url-status=live }}</ref>
*   '''Music:''' Composers [[Franz Liszt]] and [[Giuseppe Verdi]] visited and were inspired by the lake. Liszt stayed in [[Bellagio (Italian region)|Bellagio]] in late 1837 with [[Marie d'Agoult]], and their daughter [[Cosima Wagner|Cosima]] (later Wagner's wife) was born there.<ref name="ChandosLiszt">{{cite web |url=https://www.chandos.net/translate/CH10662 |title=Liner Notes for Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage - Suisse (CH10662) |website=Chandos Records |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429141612/https://www.chandos.net/translate/CH10662 |archive-date=2024-04-29 |url-status=live}}</ref> While travelling during this period, Liszt composed pieces for his ''[[Années de pèlerinage]]''. Although the piano piece {{Lang|fr|Au lac de Wallenstadt}} evokes the mood and "sighing waves" of the nearby Swiss [[Lake Walen]], it originated from this creatively fertile Italian journey that included his significant stay on Lake Como.<ref name="ListenersClubLiszt">{{cite web |url=https://thelistenersclub.com/2025/03/24/liszts-au-lac-de-wallenstadt-from-annees-de-pelerinage-sighing-waves/ |title=Liszt's "Au lac de Wallenstadt," from Années de pèlerinage: Sighing Waves |website=The Listeners' Club |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324153204/https://thelistenersclub.com/2025/03/24/liszts-au-lac-de-wallenstadt-from-annees-de-pelerinage-sighing-waves/ |archive-date=2025-03-24 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ChandosLiszt"/> More recently, [[Gwen Stefani]] filmed her ''[[Cool (Gwen Stefani song)|Cool]]'' video at [[Villa Erba]] by the lake,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/places/famous-music-video-locations |title=Famous Music Video Locations: Where were your favourite MVs filmed? |website=Sound of Life |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429125054/https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/places/famous-music-video-locations |archive-date=2024-04-29 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://xixerone.com/en/music-videos-shot-in-italy/ |title=10 Famous Music Videos Shot In Italy |website=XIXERONE |date=14 September 2023 |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221011543/https://xixerone.com/en/music-videos-shot-in-italy/ |archive-date=2024-02-21 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Marina Diamandis]] mentioned the lake in the song ''[[Cuntissimo]]'' and filmed parts of its music video at Villa del Balbianello.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.culledculture.com/marina-cuntissimo/ |title=Genna Rivieccio: Culled Culture article on Marina's Cuntissimo |date=11 April 2025 |access-date=15 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411232257/https://www.culledculture.com/marina-cuntissimo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cuisine===
The cuisine of the Lake Como area, known as {{lang|it|cucina lariana}}, features a blend of ingredients from the lake and the surrounding mountains.<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine">{{cite web |url=https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/blog/piatti-tipici-del-lago-di-como-ecco-cosa-mangiare-nei-territori-del-lario/ |title=Piatti tipici del Lago di Como: ecco cosa mangiare nei territori del Lario |website=Navigazione Laghi Blog |access-date=2025-04-29 |language=Italian |archive-date=13 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413164319/https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/blog/piatti-tipici-del-lago-di-como-ecco-cosa-mangiare-nei-territori-del-lario/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Freshwater fish]] are central, with [[European perch|perch]] ({{lang|it|persico}}), [[Coregonus lavaretus|whitefish]] ({{lang|it|lavarello}}), [[Alosa agone|twaite shad]] ({{lang|it|agone}}), [[Salvelinus|char]] ({{lang|it|salmerino}}), and [[Sander lucioperca|pike-perch]] ({{lang|it|lucioperca}}) being commonly used. Popular dishes include risotto with perch fillets ({{lang|it|risotto al persico}}), and {{lang|it|[[Alosa agone|missoltini]]}} – sun-dried, salted, and pressed shad, typically grilled and served with {{lang|it|[[polenta]]}},<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine"/> a staple accompaniment, often served {{lang|lmo|uncia}} (with local melted cheese and butter) or alongside braised meats and stews like {{Lang|lmo|casoeûla}} (a traditional Lombard pork and cabbage dish).<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine"/> The region produces a variety of cheeses, both cow's and goat's milk, from lakeside farms and mountain pastures ({{lang|it|alpeggi}}), including types like {{lang|lmo|Zincarlin}}, {{lang|it|Semuda}}, and {{lang|it|Lariano}}.<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine"/> Local [[salami]] and meats like [[bresaola]] are also features. The mild climate supports [[olive oil|olive cultivation]], with locally produced oils like ''Lario DOP'' recognized.<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine"/> Traditional desserts include {{lang|lmo|Miascia}} (a simple bread-based cake with fruit), {{lang|lmo|Pan Mataloch}} (a local variant of [[panettone]]), and {{lang|it|Nocciolini di Canzo}} (small hazelnut biscuits).<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine"/> Local [[Italian wine|wines]], both white (from grapes like {{lang|it|Verdese}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://glossary.wein.plus/verdese |title=Verdese |website=Wein.plus Wine Glossary |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428184104/https://glossary.wein.plus/verdese |archive-date=2024-04-28 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Pinot Bianco]]) and red (from [[Merlot]] and [[Sangiovese]]), are produced, particularly on the hillsides of the upper lake area.<ref name="NavLaghiCuisine"/>

===Traditions and events===
The area surrounding Lake Como maintains strong local traditions, expressed through numerous popular festivals, religious celebrations, and community events throughout the year.<ref name="TurismoItFolklore">{{cite web |url=https://www.turismo.it/italia/scheda/lago-di-como/folklore_tradizioni/ |title=Folklore & tradizioni |website=Turismo.it |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=Italian |archive-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419092543/https://www.turismo.it/italia/scheda/lago-di-como/folklore_tradizioni/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Notable annual events include:
* The ancient carnival {{lang|it|Carnevale di [[Schignano]]}}, known for its traditional wooden masks.<ref name="TurismoItFolklore"/>
* The {{lang|it|Sagra di San Giovanni}} in late June, celebrating the patron saint of Como with events often centered around [[Isola Comacina]], including traditional boat processions and a large fireworks display over the lake.<ref name="TurismoItFolklore"/>
* Summer Lake Festivals ({{lang|it|Feste del Lago}}) in towns like [[Gravedona]], featuring fireworks reflected on the water.<ref name="AltolarioEvents">{{cite web |url=https://altolario.com/eventi-e-tradizioni-dellalto-lago-di-como-il-calendario-da-segnare/ |title=Eventi e tradizioni dell'Alto Lago di Como: il calendario da segnare |website=Altolario.com |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=Italian |archive-date=27 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527071115/https://altolario.com/eventi-e-tradizioni-dellalto-lago-di-como-il-calendario-da-segnare/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TurismoItFolklore"/>
* Various {{lang|it|sagre}} (food festivals) dedicated to local products, such as the {{lang|it|Sagra dei Missoltini}} in [[Dongo, Lombardy|Dongo]] (August) and autumn chestnut festivals ({{lang|it|Festa della Castagna}}) in mountain villages like [[Peglio, Lombardy|Peglio]].<ref name="AltolarioEvents"/>
* Cultural events like the {{lang|it|Festival Musica sull'Acqua}} in [[Colico]] and surrounding areas, featuring classical and contemporary music performances in scenic locations.<ref name="AltolarioEvents"/>
* Winter traditions, including lakeside nativity scenes ({{lang|it|presepi sull'acqua}}) and New Year's Eve torchlight processions ({{lang|it|fiaccolata}}) on the water, particularly in [[Colico]].<ref name="AltolarioEvents"/>
* Agricultural fairs, such as the {{lang|it|Mostra Zootecnica}} in [[Gravedona]] and the {{lang|it|Fiera di San Carlo}} in [[Domaso]], celebrate the area's rural heritage.<ref name="AltolarioEvents"/>
* Historical reenactments related to medieval Como, such as {{Lang|it|Palio del Baradello}}, take place annually in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palio del Baradello di Como |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/#fh5co-tab-feature-center3 |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=27 October 2024 |archive-date=4 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304002504/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/#fh5co-tab-feature-center3 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Gare |url=https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/gare.html |website=Palio del Baradello di Como |access-date=27 October 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232121/https://www.paliodelbaradello.it/gare.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy==
The economy of the Lake Como area (provinces of Como and Lecco) is multifaceted, blending industry, tourism, and services, deeply influenced by the lake itself. Historically, waterways facilitated transport, silk production (via mulberry cultivation), and power for industries.<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024">{{cite report |title=Economic Overview of Lake Como's Area |publisher=Como-Lecco Chamber of Commerce’s Research Department |date=October 2024}}</ref> In recent decades, tourism has become increasingly prominent, sometimes seen as offsetting declines in traditional industrial sectors.<ref name="Barbieri2013">{{cite journal |last1=Barbieri |first1=Giovanni |last2=Cortelezzi |first2=Cinzia |last3=Minazzi |first3=Marco |title=Tourism seasonality and potentiality of development in the Como lake area. |date=28 March 2013 |journal = Uninsubria Thesis Archive|url=https://irinsubria.uninsubria.it/retrieve/e2188be6-0373-4564-e053-6605fe0a49d6/Barbieri_Cortelezzi_Minazzi_03_28_2013.pdf |publisher=Università degli Studi dell'Insubria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726180726/https://irinsubria.uninsubria.it/retrieve/e2188be6-0373-4564-e053-6605fe0a49d6/Barbieri_Cortelezzi_Minazzi_03_28_2013.pdf |archive-date=26 July 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref> Modern economic pillars include manufacturing specialized in distinct districts, a significant tourism sector, a strong craft base, and a vibrant cultural economy, supported by skilled labor and strategic connections to Milan, Switzerland, and Europe.<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/> At the end of 2023, the area had nearly 72,000 registered businesses and over 315,000 employees.<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/>

===Tourism===
[[File:Como lake in Italy.jpg|thumb|left|A picturesque dock in Viale Geno, Como]]
Lake Como's allure as a premier international tourist destination stems from its dramatic scenery, historic villas, charming villages, and mild climate.<ref>[http://www.inghams.co.uk/lakes-mountains-holidays/resorts/location/item165325/lake-como-selection/ Lake Como holidays] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718121052/http://www.inghams.co.uk/lakes-mountains-holidays/resorts/location/item165325/lake-como-selection/ |date=18 July 2013 }}, ''inghams.com'', April 20, 2010</ref> The sector is a fundamental component of the local economy, particularly for the lakeside towns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Explore Lake Como in Italy {{!}} Your Ultimate Online Travel Guide |url=https://www.explorecomolake.com/ |website=Explore Como Lake |language=en-gb |access-date=13 November 2024 |archive-date=5 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105181624/https://www.explorecomolake.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Tourism generates significant revenue (estimated at €1.5 billion in 2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lampoonmagazine.com/article/2024/11/20/chanel-cruise-2025-2026-lake-como-urban-planning-society-sustainability/ |title=Chanel Sets Course for Lake Como: Navigating Urban Planning, Society, and Sustainability for the Cruise 2025/2026 Show |website=Lampoon Magazine |date=20 November 2024 |access-date=30 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121151410/https://lampoonmagazine.com/article/2024/11/20/chanel-cruise-2025-2026-lake-como-urban-planning-society-sustainability/ |archive-date=21 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> and supports numerous businesses, including hotels, restaurants, shops, transport services, and cultural guides.

The tourism structure includes both traditional hotels and a significant non-hotel sector (B&Bs, campsites, holiday rentals).<ref name="Barbieri2013"/> Historically, the main visitor markets have been Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, alongside domestic Italian tourism.<ref name="Barbieri2013"/> Tourism is highly seasonal, concentrated primarily in the summer months.<ref name="Barbieri2013"/> Following a significant downturn caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], tourism rebounded strongly in the early 2020s, with visitor numbers and overnight stays exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 2023, largely driven by the return of international tourists.<ref name="ComoCompanionPostCovid">{{cite web |url=https://comocompanion.com/2024/04/01/como-tourism-post-covid/ |title=Como Tourism Beyond Covid |website=Como Companion |date=1 April 2024 |access-date=30 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413094045/https://comocompanion.com/2024/04/01/como-tourism-post-covid/ |archive-date=13 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/> Current trends indicate a strong [[Luxury goods|luxury]] market segment, an emphasis on experiential travel focusing on villas and unique activities, and a growing focus on [[Sustainable tourism|sustainability]] within the local hospitality industry.<ref name="VarennaHolidaysTrends">{{cite web |url=https://www.varennaholidays.it/blog/2025-predictions-for-lake-como-tourism-and-hospitality/ |title=2025 Predictions for Lake Como Tourism and Hospitality |website=Varenna Holidays Blog |date=December 2024 |access-date=30 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221115500/https://www.varennaholidays.it/blog/2025-predictions-for-lake-como-tourism-and-hospitality/ |archive-date=21 December 2024 |url-status=live}} ''(Note: Source reviewed for current trends, predictive elements disregarded)''</ref> This high demand, however, contributes to significant challenges related to overtourism.

====Outdoor activities and safety====
The lake provides a scenic backdrop for various outdoor activities; hiking and cycling are popular pursuits in the surrounding mountains, offering panoramic views of the lake and picturesque villages.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lake Como Hiking & Biking Trails - Explore the Outdoors |url=https://www.getyourguide.com/lake-como-l327/hiking-biking-trails-tc199/ |website=[[GetYourGuide]]}}</ref> Activities such as [[sailing]], [[windsurfing]], and [[kitesurfing]], attract enthusiasts of water sports.<ref>[http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/fiat/06/kiteboardpro/0606.html 2006 Kiteboard Pro World Tour event, Lake Como] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018121007/http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/fiat/06/kiteboardpro/0606.html |date=18 October 2006 }}, ''Italiaspeed.com'', June 6, 2006</ref> While Lake Como is generally considered safe, caution is advised for those seeking to swim in its waters. Local regulations prohibit diving and swimming in the city of Como and in many nearby lakeside villages, except in designated areas such as private {{lang|it|lidos}} or authorized public beaches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lagodicomo.today/visitors-defy-swimming-ban-at-menaggio-rising-safety-concerns-amid-summer-heat/ |title=Visitors Defy Swimming Ban at Menaggio: Rising Safety Concerns Amid Summer Heat |website=Lago di Como Today |date=July 12, 2023 |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713174531/https://www.lagodicomo.today/visitors-defy-swimming-ban-at-menaggio-rising-safety-concerns-amid-summer-heat/ |archive-date=2023-07-13 |url-status=live }}</ref> These restrictions are in place primarily owing to the inherent dangers of the lake, where the water can shift abruptly from shallow to deep near the shoreline; due to unpredictable acquatic conditions and a sharp [[thermocline]],<ref name="Galia2021"/> diving poses a risk of [[cold shock response|sudden thermal shock]].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 5, 2019 |title=National football player drowns in Lake Como |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/florijana-ismaili_swiss-national-football-player-drowns-in-lake-como/45066692 |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Swiss Info |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818070543/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/florijana-ismaili_swiss-national-football-player-drowns-in-lake-como/45066692 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Girl who drowned in Lake Como named |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2023/08/16/girl-who-drowned-in-lake-como-named_589e603e-feb7-4802-b429-96571dd36b9f.html |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Ansa |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818070101/https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2023/08/16/girl-who-drowned-in-lake-como-named_589e603e-feb7-4802-b429-96571dd36b9f.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, bathing can be hazardous because of the presence of toxic algae, harmful bacteria, and the frequent passage of boats close to the shore, all of which increase the risk of accidents and health issues.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title=A terrible year with many victims of the depths during summer |url=https://www.laprovinciadicomo.it/stories/como-citta/che-anno-terribile-tante-vittime-degli-abissi-del-lago-nel-corso-dellestate-o_1438136_11/ |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=La Provincia di Como |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818065823/https://www.laprovinciadicomo.it/stories/como-citta/che-anno-terribile-tante-vittime-degli-abissi-del-lago-nel-corso-dellestate-o_1438136_11/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Overtourism====
Lake Como has become a prominent example of the challenges posed by overtourism. Its transformation into a globally recognized destination, amplified by celebrity appeal, film locations, and social media visibility, has led to a dramatic increase in visitor numbers.<ref name="WorldcrunchOvertourism">{{cite web |url=https://worldcrunch.com/food-travel/lake-como-overtourism-italy/ |title=Blame It On George? How Lake Como Became Another Victim Of Overtourism |last=Mastrodonato |first=Luigi |translator-last=La Rocca |translator-first=Fabrizio |website=Worldcrunch |publisher=Internazionale |date=2024-11-15 |access-date=2024-12-10 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226032050/https://worldcrunch.com/food-travel/lake-como-overtourism-italy |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, the area recorded 4.8 million overnight stays, straining local infrastructure with overcrowded public transport, congested roads, and essential services struggling to cope, particularly during peak season. This intense pressure occurs in a territory noted for its hydrogeological fragility, where land consumption for tourism development raises concerns about environmental sustainability and has been linked to increased risks of floods and landslides, such as those affecting [[Blevio]] and [[Laglio]] in recent years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2021/07/29/george-clooney-caught-in-floods-that-hit-northern-italy/|title=George Clooney caught in devastating floods that hit northern Italy|website=NY Post|date=2021-07-29 |access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref> The socio-economic impacts are significant, contributing to what some locals describe as the "great escape from the lake".<ref name="InternazionaleOvertourism">{{cite web |url=https://www.internazionale.it/reportage/luigi-mastrodonato/2024/05/29/turismo-lago-como |title=Sul lago di Como non c'è più posto |last=Mastrodonato |first=Luigi |website=Internazionale |date=2024-05-29 |access-date=2024-12-10 |language=Italian |archive-date=17 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117050310/https://www.internazionale.it/reportage/luigi-mastrodonato/2024/05/29/turismo-lago-como |url-status=live }}</ref> The boom in tourism, particularly the shift towards short-term rentals driven by platforms like [[Airbnb]], has inflated property prices, making housing increasingly unaffordable for the local population. This [[gentrification]] contributes to the depopulation of historic villages, with some, like [[Nesso]], [[Pognana Lario]], and [[Veleso]], losing up to 30% of their residents over two decades. The situation creates tension between the demands of the tourism economy and the quality of life for inhabitants, leading to reports of residents feeling trapped in their homes during busy weekends and essential services like schools facing closure due to dwindling local enrollment.<ref name="QuiComoOvertourism">{{cite web |url=https://www.quicomo.it/attualita/overtourism-lago-do-como-turisti-indagine-demoskopica.html |title=Indagine sull'overtourism nel Comasco: "Fenomeno fuori controllo, i turisti sono troppi" |website=QuiComo |date=2024-11-25 |access-date=2024-12-10 |language=Italian |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616101839/https://www.quicomo.it/attualita/overtourism-lago-do-como-turisti-indagine-demoskopica.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Efforts to manage the influx include visitor caps at popular sites like Villa del Balbianello and the introduction of entry fees in smaller villages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://italoamericano.org/como-tourist-tax/ |title=Como Considers Tourist Tax to Combat Overtourism |website=Italo Americano Newspaper |date=April 9, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413092723/https://italoamericano.org/como-tourist-tax/ |archive-date=2024-04-13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Transport===
Transport by boat on the lake is provided by ''[[Gestione Governativa Navigazione Laghi]]'' ({{lang|it|Navigazione Laghi}}). The eastern shore of the lake is followed by the [[Tirano–Lecco railway]], with regional train services operated by [[Trenord]]. International [[EuroCity]] trains call at {{rws|Como San Giovanni}} station on the [[Milan–Chiasso railway]].

===Manufacturing===
Manufacturing remains crucial, with around 9,500 companies in 2023, concentrated in specific industrial districts:<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/>
*   '''Textiles (Silk):''' Centered in Como province, the historic ''Como Silk District'' excels in high-quality silk weaving, finishing, and apparel/accessory production. It's a key reason Como is a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021 |title=Como - Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/como?hub=80094|publisher=Unesco|access-date=2025-04-29}}</ref> Como province hosts around 1,050 textile firms employing over 12,500 people, making it a leading center in Italy for this sector. Textile exports neared €1.8 billion in 2023.
*   '''Mechatronics (Metalworking & Engineering):''' Primarily based in Lecco province, this sector boasts over 4,000 companies and nearly 51,000 employees. Lecco ranks first regionally and nationally for the relative concentration of metalworking businesses (9% of its total). The ''Lecco Metalworking District'' focuses on metal production, processing, machinery, and automation, exporting over €6.6 billion in 2023.
*   '''Furniture and Design:''' The ''Brianza Furniture'' industrial district, partly located in Como province near [[Cantù]], involves nearly 1,000 companies and employs about 7,800 people. Known for high-quality wood and metal furniture, design, and finishing, its exports reached €840 million in 2023.

===Craftsmanship===
Artisan businesses are vital, numbering approximately 22,900 (35% of all businesses, significantly above average) and employing over 54,200 people (21% of the workforce) in 2023. Lecco province has a particularly high density of craft enterprises. Construction (39% of craft businesses) and metalworking (10%) are dominant craft sectors.<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/>

===Trade===
The area is strongly export-oriented. In 2023, exports exceeded €12 billion against imports of over €7 billion, yielding a trade surplus of €5.1 billion. Key export sectors include machinery/electronics ("other industry"), metal products, and textiles. Main import sectors are similar. Europe is the primary trading partner (73% exports, 76% imports), followed by Asia. Top individual export destinations are Germany, France, and the US; top import sources are Germany, China, and France.<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/>

===Infrastructure===
The economy benefits from proximity to three major airports: [[Milan Malpensa Airport|Malpensa]], [[Linate Airport|Linate]], and [[Orio al Serio International Airport|Orio al Serio]]. Key roads include the [[A9 motorway (Italy)|A9 motorway]], between Milan and the border with Switzerland, the busy [[Strada statale 36 del Lago di Como e dello Spluga|SS36]] between Milan and [[Valtellina]], close to the eastern branch of the lake, and the scenic but congested {{lang|it|SS340 - Regina}} and {{lang|it|SS583 - Lariana}} along the western and eastern shores of the Como branch respectively. Rail links, lake transport, and infrastructure for cycle paths and hiking trails are also vital.<ref name="CoLC_EconOverview2024"/>

==Notable towns and villages==
[[File:Tremezzo, giardini pubblici (Ian Spackman 2007-007-0-).jpg|thumb|The Parco Meier, a public garden in [[Tremezzo]], offering lakeside views]]
[[File:Good como lake photo.jpg|thumb|Menaggio from Lake Como, showcasing the town's charming waterfront]]
[[File:Varenna Italy, waterfront at sunset.jpg|alt=The Lake Como waterfront at sunset, Varenna.|thumb|The Lake Como waterfront at sunset, Varenna, showcasing the town's charm]]
Numerous towns and villages line the shores of Lake Como. The table below lists the principal settlements on each shore:
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Western shore <br>{{small|from North to South}}
! South shore <br>{{small|from West to East}}
! Eastern shore <br>{{small|from North to South}}
|- valign=top
|
* [[Domaso]]
* [[Gravedona]]
* [[Dongo, Lombardy|Dongo]]
* [[Musso (CO)|Musso]]
* [[Menaggio]]
* [[Cadenabbia]]
* [[Griante]]
* [[Tremezzo]]
* [[Mezzegra]]
* [[Lenno]]
* [[Ossuccio]]
* [[Sala Comacina]]
* [[Colonno]]
* [[Argegno]]
* [[Brienno]]
* [[Moltrasio]]
* [[Cernobbio]]
* [[Como]]
|
* [[Como]]
* [[Blevio]]
* [[Brunate]] (above Como)
* [[Torno, Lombardy|Torno]]
* [[Nesso]]
* [[Bellagio (Italian region)|Bellagio]]
* [[Oliveto Lario]]
* [[Malgrate]]
* [[Lecco]]
|
* [[Colico]]
* [[Dorio, Lombardy|Dorio]]
* [[Dervio]]
* [[Bellano]]
* [[Varenna]]
* [[Lierna]]
* [[Mandello del Lario]]
* [[Abbadia Lariana]]
* [[Lecco]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[Italian Lakes]]
* [[List of lakes of Italy]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Como, Lake of | volume= 6 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge|  page = 794 |short= 1}}
* Macadam, Alta (1997). ''Blue Guide. Northern Italy: From the Alps to Bologna''. London: A & C Black. {{ISBN|0-7136-4294-7}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lake Como}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070503014800/http://www.villacarlotta.it/sito/index2.php Villacarlotta.it, ''Villa Carlotta'']
* [https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/en// Navigazione Laghi] {{in lang|it|en}}


{{Lago di Como}}
{{Landmarks of Lombardy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Como, Lago Di}}
[[Category:Adda basin|LComo]]
[[Category:Glacial lakes of Italy]]
[[Category:Lakes of Lombardy]]
[[Category:Province of Como]]
[[Category:Province of Lecco]]
[[Category:Rockefeller Foundation]]
[[Category:Subalpine lakes of Italy]]
[[Category:Waterways of Italy]]