🔷 Italy May Pay You €24K to Open a Bookshop

🔹 Hello, Lake Como.

I met our real estate guy at Poletti this week. While I was chewing their amazing sfoglia alla pera - which is, for the record, the best - he told me that locals can no longer afford homes in Cernobbio. Increasingly, he says, it’s foreign buyers picking up the new listings.

That matches much of what we’ve been seeing: strong international interest in Lake Como, even as Cernobbio’s price growth begins to slow.

The lake has become noticeably more international over the past five years. If that continues, what will it mean for local businesses - and for the lake itself?

We can only speculate. For now, the Q2 property data is out, this week’s best events are waiting below, and there are a couple of useful calls for entrepreneurs.

And let me remind you: in two days, Italians are officially OOO. August is here.

-Simona

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What's Happening:

More homes came onto the market earlier this year. Now, that wave appears to be losing speed.

Facts:

What does it mean for us?

Como’s big wave of new listings may already be behind us (for now). Supply is still growing, but 1.1% is closer to stable than to another surge.

That’s not necessarily bad news for buyers. There is more choice than at the start of the year, and properties that have been online for months may leave more room to negotiate.

The differences nearby are also telling. Varese increasingly looks like a buyer’s market, while Lecco is getting tighter. Como sits somewhere in between: more choice than before, but no flood of homes - and the best ones will still move.

What do you think? Reply to this email and let us know.

🇭🇰 Vogue Hong Kong. Vogue Hong Kong published a 48-hour Lake Como guide. The lake is being packaged more and more for Asian luxury travellers.

🏰 Bond Apartment. An apartment inside Villa La Gaeta is on the market. Yes, the same neo-medieval Lake Como villa made famous by Casino Royale.

🍄 Mushroom Check. Free mushroom checks are available from 1 August to 30 November at ATS Insubria. If you are not sure what you picked in the forest, the municipality has your back.

🛍️ Sbaracco Traffic. Cernobbio’s shopping festival returns on Saturday 1 August. Via Regina will be closed.

🏚️ Orphanage Sold. Como’s former orphanage sale is finally moving from long-running city problem to closed deal. One of the city’s most visible abandoned buildings now has a next chapter.

⚡ Textile Power. More than 100 Como textile companies are joining forces to buy renewable energy at lower costs.

📚 Bookstore Bonus. Italy’s “Bookstores Under 35” call gives up to €24,000 to people under 35 who want to open, or recently opened, a bookstore. Applications are open until 13 September.

🖼️ Antiques Notice. Como is looking for organisers for hobbyist antiques exhibitions from 30 August to November. Applications close at 10am on 3 August.

Friday, July 31

FOOTBALL · ⚽ Como Cup: 3rd–4th and 5th–6th Place Finals · from 18:00 · Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como

VILLA CONCERT · 🎸 Gipsy: Quatour Aighetta · 11:00 · Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio

CLASSICAL CONCERT · 🎼 Cinematic · 18:30 · Villa Carlotta, Tremezzina

BEACH NIGHT · 🎧 Midsummer Night at Cala Silva · 18:00 to 01:00 · Cala Silva, Via Liscione 2, Valbrona

Saturday, August 1

NIGHT FESTIVAL· 🛍️ Lo Sbaracco: Cernobbio Shopping Festival · 10:30 to 20:00 · Cernobbio

APERITIVO PARTY · 🍊 Aperitivo Insolito · 17:00 to 00:00 · L’Insolito Posto, Via Borgonuovo 5, Nesso

JEWELRY TALK · 💎 Lake Como Jewelry Weekend · 16:00 to 17:00 · The Lake Como EDITION

FOOTBALL FINAL · ⚽ Como Cup Final · from 20:00 · Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como

Sunday, August 2

WELLNESS MORNING · 🧘 The Thin Thread of Yoga · 09:15 · Cedro del Grumello, Como

CHAMBER CONCERT · 🎻 Bruno Giuffredi and Gabriele Garofano · 11:00 · Grande Cedro, Villa del Grumello, Como

CITY CONCERT · 🎼 Concerts for Como · 21:00 · Chiesa di San Donnino, Como

OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 The Stranger · 21:00 · Cedro del Grumello, Como