9 Best Things To Do In Como, Italy

things to do in como italy
Michelle
Michelle 
Updated
| 4 min read

Como is a lovely vacation destination for those who love the beauty of nature. There are so many popular places to visit in Como such as the Gothic Como Cathedral, the scenic funicular railway, the waterfront promenade, the Tempio Voltiano museum, and the lakeside gardens of the palatial Villa Olmo. Visitors love the blue waters here and feel relaxed in the luxurious villas, on the wooded lakeside slopes. If you’re planning a visit to beautiful Como, you might want to consult this list of the best things to do.

1. Shop all you can at dep design store

Posted by dep design store on Sunday, 2 October 2016

Dep design store, in Como, is a unique shopping store with Italian style and flair. It’s a cosmopolitan space, where you can come to browse or find a gift. Here, you’ll find interesting home decor and a stunning and elegant selection of articles for the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. There’s also stationary, lighting, vintage furniture, ceramics, and glass, in a spacious, airy, and modern interior, which makes dep design store a must-go place, when visiting Como.

dep design store

Address: Via Paolo Carcano, 4, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Website: dep design store

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2. Explore beautiful Bellagio

Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy.

Posted by WeVillas on Saturday, 15 April 2017

The town of Bellagio is the most beautiful and romantic town in Europe. Sitting right in middle of Lake Como, the most pleasant way to enjoy Bellagio is to take a journey there, by boat. The route of the slow boat takes between 10 to 16 stops and the ride takes between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete (the number of stops and journey time depends on your departure time).

Bellagio is known for its cobbled roads, elegant buildings and the Villa Serbelloni Park, which is an 18th-century terraced garden, with lake views. The Tower of the Arts is nearby the park, which is a venue for exhibitions and theater performances, as well as the Romanesque San Giacomo Church.

Bellagio

Address: Province of Bellagio

Website: Bellagio

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3. Funicolare Como-Brunate

Funicolare Como-Brunate

Posted by Lago di Como on Wednesday, 21 March 2012

The Como Brunate Funicular is a funicular railway that connects Como city with the village of Brunate, in Italy. It has been in operation since 1894 and it is used by tourists and locals alike. It is very popular, especially for tourists, who like to ride on it for the photo ops.

Funicolare Como-Brunate

Address: Province of Como

Website: Funicolare Como-Brunate

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4. Visit the magnificent Como Cathedral

Como Cathedral.

Posted by Roy Kilpatrick on Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Como Cathedral is an ancient Roman Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and it is a historical centre and very close to Lake Como. It has been described as the last Gothic cathedral in Italy and one of the most important buildings in the region. Set near the magnificent Piazza Duomo, the cathedral building work started in 1396. It was built in many different stages over a period of three and a half centuries and was completed in 1744.

Como Cathedral

Address: Via Maestri Comacini, 6, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Website: Como Cathedral

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5. Villa Olmo

Villa Olmo f.to by Michele Iaconis

Posted by Visit Como Lake on Thursday, 17 October 2013

Villa Olmo is known as the most majestic villa on Como Lake and is a great example of neoclassical architecture. Construction on the villa started at the end of the 18th century and it was finished in the year 1812, by the marquesses Odescalchi. It was then occupied by the family Raimondi and Visconti di Modrone. In the year 1925, the Como municipality decided to take it over and use it as a place to host cultural events and art exhibitions.

The Villa Como is comprised of a large park and many smaller buildings. The central building is used as an exhibition place, there is a building on the north part, there is the south and the north casinos, the greenhouses, a few tennis courts, an international hostel and a lido, as well.

Villa Olmo

Address: Via Simone Cantoni, 1, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Website: Villa Olmo

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6. Teatro Sociale

󾠉CASTING AL TEATRO SOCIALE DI COMO PER FILM CINESE!󾠉 L’1 e 2 SETTEMBRE al Teatro Sociale di Como avverrà la selezione...

Posted by Teatro Sociale di Como on Wednesday, 31 August 2016

The Teatro Sociale is an opera theatre house, in Como. It was designed by local nobility and is located in Torre Rotonda with membership subscriptions to fund its creation. Teatro Sociale’s doors are open to the city, its citizens and all the tourists who visit the city of Como. The theatre has undergone several expansions and periods of renovation over the years, to bring it to the grand status it holds today, and to repair the damage it incurred, during WWII.

Teatro Sociale

Address: Via Vincenzo Bellini, 3, 22100 Como

Website: Teatro Sociale

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7. Museo Archeologico Giovio

Museo Archeologico Paolo Giovio, Como

Posted by Matteo Cremona on Wednesday, 28 September 2016

The Museo Archeologico Giovio is an archaeological and historical museum in the city of Paolo Giovio di Como. The museum tracks the very first story of Como, from prehistory to medieval times, in a constantly updated path that keeps pace with the archaeological finds that take place in the territory. It has visitors from all age groups, from local Como citizens to tourists from abroad.

Museo Archeologico Giovio

Address: Piazza Medaglie D'Oro, 1, 22100 Como

Website: Museo Archeologico Giovio

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8. See the amazing Basilica di San Fedele.

Basilica of San Fedele http://lakecomotravel.com/como/romanesque-tour/

Posted by Lake Como Travel on Wednesday, 9 December 2015

The Basilica of San Fedele was constructed in 1120, in the same place where a 5th-century Paleochristian church stood, originally dedicated to Santa Eufemia. It is situated in one of the prettiest squares in the entire city of Como, and it stands out for its huge bell tower and also the beautiful rose Renaissance window, which is located on the facade.

In the 11th century, the church was dedicated to San Fedele. His relics that were found near Lake Mezzola, in the year 964, at the place where he was martyred by the Romans, are kept in the present church.

Basilica of San Fedele

Address: Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 94, 22100 Como

Website: Basilica of San Fedele

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9. Visit the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio

Posted by Patrick Wright on Sunday, 30 April 2017

Basilica di Sant'Abbondio is a fine example of Como Romanesque architecture and it is located just outside of the town walls, near Monte Croce, along the via Regina, in a place of great importance. The church was dedicated to Sant'Abbondio in the 9th century and a former bishop of Como has been buried here, since the 5th century. In the year 1010, the bishop Alberico sent a group of Benedictine monks to begin reconstructing the church. The previous Paleochristian building was brought down and a brand new Romanesque church was then built and also consecrated by Urbano II, in the year 1095.

In the next two centuries, there were many modifications carried out here. After 1968, the cloister which was next to the church was then acquired by the Como municipality and restored. Now the law department of the University of Insubria is situated here.

Basilica of Sant'Abbondio

Address: Via Regina Teodolinda, 35, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Website: Basilica of Sant'Abbondio

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Go on a historic vacation to Como

Comoparco
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Nicolago used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Ancient and historic Como is full of beautiful masterpieces for you to explore - it has old cathedrals, museums, ancient Basilicas, and the Villa Olmo, which never ceases to inspire and excite tourists.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Michelle, formerly an investment banker, now revels in her role as a full-time mom with an unwavering passion for life. Her bags are perpetually packed, ready to embark on adventures and explore...Read more

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