🔹 Hello, Lake Como.
If you were planning a holiday outside Italy, now might be excellent timing: the heatwave is making a comeback, with temperatures expected to reach 36°C by the end of the week.
Como, meanwhile, isn’t staying in the shade. Craig David takes the stage on Thursday, outdoor cinemas are rolling, and next week brings both the Como Cup and the Como Business & Innovation Summit.
The calendar is full. So is the sun. Stay hydrated - and perhaps give your air conditioner a quick performance review; you still have a few cooler days ahead.
-Simona
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🔦 Spotlight: Europe Turns Up the Heat on “Green Homes”
What's Happening:
Italy missed the deadline to implement the EU’s Green Homes Directive.
Facts:
The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against all 27 EU countries for failing to fully transpose the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive by May.
Italy now has 2 months to respond and complete the legislation. This is only the first formal stage - not yet a fine or court ruling.
Italy was already facing a separate procedure for failing to submit its draft National Building Renovation Plan. As of mid-July, it was also absent from the first 16 national plans assessed by Brussels.
The directive does not require every Italian home to reach one fixed energy class by 2030. Instead, Italy must reduce the residential sector’s average primary energy use by 16% by 2030 and 20–22% by 2035, compared with 2020.
Renovation support is still available. In 2026, owners can deduct 50% of eligible costs for a main home and 36% for a second home. The 50% rate was predicted to fall in 2027, but EU pressure makes continued support more likely - although nothing is confirmed.
What does it mean for us?
Between 2021 and 2025, prices of A and B class homes in Italy increased by 2%, while F and G class homes fell by 4%. In North-West Italy, the average price difference was €868 per square metre - almost €87,000 on a 100 m² home. This is not entirely caused by energy efficiency, as greener homes are often newer and better built, but the direction is clear.
For Lake Como buyers, an old F or G class property can still be a good investment. It just needs to be discounted enough to cover the renovation, the paperwork and the risk of working on an older or protected building.
For owners already considering upgrades, 2026-27 looks like a useful window. EU pressure makes it harder for Italy to remove renovation support completely, but it does not guarantee that today’s 50% rate will remain.
What do you think? Reply to this email and let us know.
⭐ In Case You Missed It
✈️ Global Mentions
🍽️ Michelin Nod. Lisander, a restaurant inside Hotel Promessi Sposi in Malgrate, entered the Michelin Guide Italy 2026 just three years after opening.
🌉 Miners’ Bridge. A new suspension bridge is coming above Dervio: 450 metres long, about 200 metres high, and promoted as Europe’s highest pedestrian crossing. Opening is expected this autumn.
✨ Local Projects and Life
💧 Lake Drops. In 30 days, the lake lost more than 90 centimetres of water. It is now close to historic lows, with early problems already appearing for small boats and harbours.
🐶 Adopt July. 8 dogs in the Como area are looking for a home this July. Photos included!
🧭 Design Expands. Lake Como Design Festival returns from 12 to 20 September with the theme “Confine”. For the first time, it also expands into Lecco.
🏛️ Real Estate
🌳 Hidden Estate. Il Campaccio, a 23.5-acre private estate above Como, is on the market for €28m. It has a 9-bed main villa, lake views, a pool, tennis court, football field, small church and is covered by Forbes.
🏛️ Balbiano Rent. Villa Balbiano is on the rental market for €140,000 per month. Sixteenth-century palace, lakefront address, and probably the clearest rent signal of Lake Como’s ultra-luxury tier.
🍎 Cagni’s Como. French businessman Pascal Cagni talks from his villa in Blevio. Another example of the lake attracting global tech, finance and design circles.
⚽ Tech & Art
🧪 Venture Three. Lake Como Venture Lab selected Cleanos, Fraido and Prometheus Plasma. The Lecco deeptech incubator now has its first batch.
🎨 Collector Lake. Lake Como just got the Alec Monopoly treatment. The American artist, has a unique hand-signed piece on Artsy, turning the lake into a scene of villas, speedboats, money and excess. Size: 121 × 181 cm, certificate included.
📱Trending on Socials:
Clooney and Kelce sharing their Como experience
🏠 Real Estate
🏡 Villa with lake views, Pognana Lario ($$): €318K · 150m² ·
4 rooms, 2 bathrooms.
View
🏡 Semi-detached house, Moltrasio ($$) €520K· 152m²
3 rooms, balcony, private garden, lake views.
🏡 3 Room Apartment with lake views, Carate Urio ($$) €710K· 158m² ·
Energy efficiency: A, large terrace, completely renovated in 2024.
View
🏢 Businesses for Sale
🏢 Electronics and computer shop for transfer, Como. €50K · 600 m² .
Business operational since 1990.🍽️ Restaurant for transfer, Cernobbio. €50K · 170 m² · The property is leased, and the sale includes the goodwill and all the equipment necessary for the operation of the business.
🐕 Pet Grooming Business for sale, Cadorago. €125K · 92 m² · 15 minutes from Como.
💼 Job Opportunities
💻 Business Unit Manager (Como). Reporting to General Manager. 68-78K/year + company car.
🏨 Hotel Manager: The Lake Como EDITION (Griante). 85-92K/year. Areas of responsibility include Front Office, SPA/Fitness Center, Housekeeping, Security/Loss Prevention, Engineering/Maintenance, Food and Beverage/Culinary and Event Management.
🧑💼 Manager: etalentum Selección (Como). HR agency is looking for an entrepreneurial individual to open their new office.
Have a property, business, or job to feature? Submit it here
📅 Events This Week: Jul 24 to Jul 31
Friday, July 24
VILLA CONCERT · 🎸 LakeComo Festival: The Breath of Water · 11:00 · Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio
CLASSICAL CONCERT · 🎹 Dances: Duo Degas · 18:30 · Villa Carlotta, Tremezzina
HEADLINE CONCERT · 🎶 Lake Sound Park: Mannarino · 21:30 · Villa Erba Ex Galoppatoio, Cernobbio
Saturday, July 25
CITY RUN · 🏃 Correndo insieme per Como · 08:00 race; 10:00 to 17:00 stands · Piazza Cavour, Como
ROMAN BATHS · 🏛️ Apertura delle Terme di Como romana · 10:00 to 18:00 · Viale Lecco 9, Como
SOCIAL DANCE · 💃 Ballando tra le stelle: Ballo liscio · 20:30 · Piazza Martinelli, Como
LOCAL MUSIC NIGHT · 🎤 Groovymorale Night · 21:00 · Joshua Blues Club, Albate, Como
HEADLINE CONCERT · 🎶 Lake Sound Park: Charlie Puth · 21:30 · Villa Erba Ex Galoppatoio, Cernobbio
Sunday, July 26
LIVE CONCERT · 🎶 Lake Sound Park: Luca Carboni · 21:30 · Villa Erba Ex Galoppatoio, Cernobbio
GUIDED LAKE TOUR · 🛶 Isola Comacina: Beauty, History and Mystery · around 2 hours · departure by boat from Ossuccio, Tremezzina
Monday, July 27
OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 Ocean’s Twelve · 21:15 · Cortile di Palazzo Olginati, Como
Tuesday, July 28
INNOVATION SUMMIT · 💼 Business on the Lake · Day 1 · Villa Gallia, Como
FOOTBALL · ⚽ Football on the Lake: Como Cup Group A · 19:00, 20:30 and 22:00 · Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
Wednesday, July 29
INNOVATION SUMMIT · 💼 Business on the Lake · Day 2 · Villa Gallia, Como
FOOTBALL · ⚽ Football on the Lake: Como Cup Group B · 19:00, 20:30 and 22:00 · Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
BAKERY POP-UP · 🥐 Dispensa63 Bakery Pop-Up · 09:00 to 14:00 · Dispensa 63, Bellagio
That’s all for this week!
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If you found a mistake, have a thought, event, or just want to chat about anything related to Lake Como or business, simply reply to this email.
