Como

In Como I am staying at the Albergo del Duca, a small family inn sitting in the picturesque Piazza Mazzini, which is named after the 18th century politician responsible for the unification of Italy. I`m located right in the heart of Como`s historical centre so I took a stroll around its colourful streets. The Como Duomo is particularly beautiful with a melange of Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque and Renaissance styles as its construction began in the 14th century and was not completed until 1740. Inside, the central aisle is lined with gorgeous tapestries while outside, the cathedral is crowned with an octagonal marble dome 75 metres high. After my walk I headed for the waterfront and took the Funicolare or cable car, constructed in 1894, up to the 720 metre high village of Brunate. The 7 minute ride up, ascending at an angle of 60°, afforded breathtaking views of Lake Como. Brunate is a tiny village and apart from the St. Andrea Apostolo Church with its beautiful ceiling frescoes it hasn`t got a lot to offer. So, after descending back to Como, I walked around the lakeside to the stunning Tempio Voltiano or Volta Museum, which was built in 1927 to honour the centenary of the death of Altessandro Volta, the distinguished physicist and inventor of the electric battery. The museum showed the instruments Volta used in his experiments. I continued on around the lakeside promenade past the elegant residences to the Villa Olmo, the beautiful 18th century aristocratic residence where Napoleon stayed during his visit to Como in 1797. It was a joy to walk through its palatial rooms and elegant garden. Tomorrow I'll take a ferry aroumd the lake to see some of the other villages.