Facts about Lake Como

Lombardy is one of the twenty administrative regions in Italy, located in the north of the country, between Switzerland in the north and the rivers: Po in the south, Ticino in the west, and Mincio in the east.

Its name comes from the Germanic tribe of the Lombards, who conquered northern Italy in the 6th century. The capital of Lombardy is Milan, and the most important cities in this region are Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Pavia, and Varese.

The southern part of Lombardy is occupied by the Po Plain, and the northern part by the Alps. In the foothills of the Alps, there are glacial lakes, the largest are Maggiore, Como, Garda, Iseo, and Lugano. Lombardy is the richest and most economically developed region of Italy.

It is the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda (370 square kilometers) - the largest and cleanest lake in Italy, and Lake Maggiore (212 square kilometers).

It is also the deepest lake in the Alps (maximum depth 425 m) the fifth in terms of maximum depth in Europe, and the third in terms of average depth, after two Norwegian lakes: Hornindalsvatnet (514 m) and Tinnsja (464 m).

The bottom of the lake is over 200 m below sea level.

The triangle formed by two diagonal branches of the lake is called in Italian Triangolo lariano" - "triangolo" - triangle, "lariano" - related to Larius, which is the Latin name of Lake Como.

It consists of a peninsula that ends at the village of Bellagio, but can be considered an island because the third side of the triangle (not occupied by Lake Como) is dotted with seven smaller lakes.

Canzo is the main town of the Comunità montana del Triangolo lariano ("Mountain Community of Triangolo lariano"), a territorial institution that brings together the 31 communes of the peninsula, approximately 71.000 inhabitants.

It protects 84 valuable species of birds (including the honey buzzard, peregrine falcon, rock partridge, eagle owl, nightjar, pipit, shrewd shrew, and warbler) and habitats, including dry grasslands and thickets on limestone substrates, where orchids bloom abundantly.

A special habitat of the reserve is rock springs with travertine formations. This is an especially popular tourist area.

The Italianized form is Lario, but this name is rarely used, the name Lago di Como - Lake Como - is usually used. The lake's name comes from the city of Como, known to the Romans as Comum.

The proximity of Lake Como and the Alps, numerous architectural monuments, museums, parks, and gardens have made this city a tourist destination that is among the most frequently visited cities in Lombardy, after Milan, Bergamo, and Brescia.

There is only one island in the lake - Isola Comacina - which was inhabited in ancient times, but the existing settlements there were destroyed in the 12th century.

The lake is divided into three parts: Ramo di Como, Lago di Lecco, and Ramo di Colico.

In the upper part of the lake, a thermal wind - breva - almost always blows.

It is a place for sailing, windsurfing, and kite surfing. Several farms around the lake produce honey, olive oil, cheese, milk, eggs, and salami.

In 2018, the Italian luxury brand Dolce and Gabbana organized a fashion show on Lake Como.

Villa Carlotta was built for the Milanese marquis Giorgio Clerici in 1690 and covers an area of over 7 hectares. At the same time, an Italian garden (with stairs, fountains, and sculptures) was established. The villa was later sold to the Napoleonic banker and politician, Giovanni Battista Sommariva. In 1818, it hosted Stendhal, who remembers this visit in the "Parma Hermitage".

Villa d'Este in Cernobbio was built in 1568. Caroline of Brunswick, wife of King George IV, lived there in 1816-1817.

Many famous people have houses on the shores of Lake Como, e.g. Matthew Bellamy, John Kerry, Madonna, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Gianni Versace, Ronaldinho, Sylvester Stallone, Julian Lennon, Richard Branson, Lionel Messi, Jose Mourinho, and others.

The Tan complex was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003.

Scenes were shot here, including: for films: Casino Royale or Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

Here he wrote down a large part of his memories.