🔹 Hello, Lake Como.
Milan minted new self-made millionaires this week after Bending Spoons hit the Nasdaq and jumped nearly 40% on day one.
That kind of money usually stays close to the innovation ecosystem. And with 3 tech programs around the lake, Como could become more than a place where Milan’s winners come to relax.
It could become part of the next cycle.
Meanwhile, the local conversation went in a very different direction. Onda’s Thursday nights, created for young people, were stopped after crowds reportedly came in around ten times larger than expected.
The decision sparked plenty of debate among locals, and the question underneath it is bigger than one event: as Lake Como becomes more polished, more expensive, and more international, where does young local life fit in?
So yes, Lake Como is no longer just the postcard. It is the lifestyle, the asset class, and increasingly, a place negotiating who it is actually for.
Also inside: Miralago apartments, Cocktail Week, hotel money, open-air concerts, and a packed events calendar.
-Simona
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🔦 Spotlight: Q1 residential real estate sales showed demand.
What's Happening:
Preliminary Q1 Italian residential homes sales estimates are here.
Italian house prices are still rising.
In Q1 2026, home prices were up +5.2% year-on-year.The market is moving, not just repricing.
Residential transactions increased +4.4% year-on-year, meaning buyers are still active, not only sellers raising prices.New-build homes are becoming much more expensive.
Prices for new homes rose +6.7% year-on-year, after falling -1.1% in the previous quarter. This suggests renewed pressure on high-quality, modern, energy-efficient stock.Existing homes still dominate the Italian market.
Existing properties represent 86.91% of the house price index, while new homes account for only 13.09%. For most owners and investors, the real market is still resale property.Existing homes are also getting more expensive.
Prices for existing homes rose +4.8% year-on-year.
What does it mean for us?
Italy’s housing market entered 2026 with clear momentum: prices were up, transactions were rising, and existing homes continued to dominate the market. But one caveat matters: this data refers to Q1, so it came before the ECB’s June rate increase, which took effect from 17 June 2026. The next quarters will show whether higher borrowing costs start to cool buyer demand.
What do you think? Reply to this email and let us know.
⭐ In Case You Missed It
🛍️ Hotels and Travel
💬 Not Postcard. Cool Hunting says Lake Como is not just beautiful views and villas. It is also hotels, design, silk, boats, artisans and local businesses.
🏨 Hotel, Unbundled. Villa d’Este opened Miralago in Cernobbio: 8 lakefront apartments where guests get the space of a private home, but with hotel service.
🏛️ Living History. Yahoo shared a video tour of a restored 12th-century Lake Como home, with frescoes, old ceilings and antique furniture.
✨ Local Projects and Life
🐾💧 Water Bank. Lombardy agreed with Enel, A2A and Edison to release 4 million cubic metres of water per day into Lake Como for 15 days. The goal is to help agriculture during the dry period.
🚌 PNRR Receipt. Como’s PNRR projects include more than €7m for Sant’Anna Hospital’s digital upgrade and more than €6m for electric buses.
🛶 Velarca Complete. FAI has opened the restored Giardino della Velarca in Ossuccio: a 325 sqm lakeside garden next to the modernist houseboat.
🌙 Onda Nights Closed. Onda music nights have been stopped, starting a big discussion in the local community.
✨ Business
🛏️ Tourism, Counted. Como now has around 9,200 registered accommodation structures. That gives a clear idea of how big tourism has become here.
🏨 Hotel Capital. Investors are still putting a lot of money into Italian hotels: €2.35bn in 2025, up 27%, and around €1.25bn already in early 2026.
🧾 Tax Month. July has several tax deadlines in Italy, including rental contracts, VAT, INPS and income-tax payments.
⚽ Como 1907
🏗️ UEFA Step. Como 1907’s new Curva Ovest construction site received a sustainability recognition from ANCE Como. The work is part of the plan to improve the stadium and move it closer to UEFA standards.
🔴 Arsenal Test. Como 1907 will play Arsenal in London on 12 August at 7:30pm BST. It is the first time the two clubs will meet.
📱Trending on Socials:
The Ice St Moritz partners with Lake Como Cocktail Week (& goes viral with their creative social media campaign)
🏠 Real Estate
🏡 3 Room apartment, Brienno ($): €175K· 73m² ·
Partial lake view, 4 residential units.
View
🏡 4 Room apartment in a historical villa, Erba ($): €220K · 118m² ·
4 rooms, swimming pool, garage, basement.
View
🏡 4 Room apartment with island views, Sala Comacina ($$): €695K· 120m²
Communal swimming pool, 2 balconies, garage, Energy Efficiency: B
🏢 Businesses for Sale
🏢 Renovated Office, Como Borghi. €349K · 150 m² .
Fully furnished. Waiting room, 2 executive offices, 2 meeting rooms, a relaxation area, and a fully equipped break area with a fridge.⚕Pharmacy for Transfer, Como €55K · 55 m² · Renovated in 2024, Direct street entrance with large display window. Rent - 1600/month.
🐕 Pet Grooming Business for sale, Cadorago. €125K · 92 m² · 15 minutes from Como.
💼 Job Opportunities
💻 Head of Customer Success: Leaf Space (Lomazzo). Rapidly growing scale-up company and a leading provider of ground segment as-a-service (GSaaS) solutions.
🧵 Sales Manager: Textile Sector (Como). 55-75K/year, 5-10 years of experience needed.
📊 Director: Tigros (Lomazzo). Supermarket chain is looking for a store manager to lead the team.
Have a property, business, or job to feature? Submit it here
📅 Events This Week: Jul 3 to Jul 9
Friday, July 3
☕ CiaoComo Morning Meetup · Morning gathering with breakfast included · 07:00 · Piazza Cavour, Como
🍸 Como Lake Cocktail Week · Jul 1 to 5 · Selected Lake Como venues
🎆 Lake Festival Varenna · Jul 3 to 4 · Varenna
🎻 I Concerti dell’Accademia Basci · 18:30 · Villa Carlotta, Tremezzina
Saturday, July 4
🎷 Lake Vibes, Live Jazz · 10:00 · Como
🛥️ The Waves: Lake Como Boat Party · 15:00 to 20:00 · Lido di Mandello
🍽️ Festa in Riva · From 19:00 · Piazza Risorgimento, Cernobbio
🎇 Lake Festival Varenna: Fireworks Night · Evening · Giardini di Olivedo, Varenna
🇺🇸 Independence Day Gala · Villa d’Este, Cernobbio
🎭 Macbeth · 21:30 · Arena Teatro Sociale, Como
Sunday, July 5
🧘 Qi Gong at Villa del Grumello · 09:15 · Villa del Grumello, Como
🍸 Como Lake Cocktail Week: Closing Day · Final day · Selected Lake Como venues
🍽️ Festa in Riva · From 19:00 · Piazza Risorgimento, Cernobbio
🎶 Passeggiata in Musica · 17:45 · From Aero Club to Villa Olmo, Como
Monday, July 6
🎼 LacMus Festival: Musical Meditations · 18:30 · Sanctuary of Beata Vergine del Soccorso, Ossuccio
Tuesday, July 7
🤝 ComoNext Community Meeting & Happy Hour · From 16:45 · ComoNExT, Lomazzo
🎭 Roland · 20:30 · Teatro Sociale, Como
🎹 LacMus Festival: Chopin – The Complete Études · 20:30 · Villa del Balbianello, Tremezzina
🩰 Stars of Ballet · 21:30 · Arena Teatro Sociale, Como
Wednesday, July 8
🎻 Vespri Mozartiani · 18:30 · Como
🪗 LacMus Festival: Passion Galliano · 20:30 · Castello Durini, Alzate Brianza
Thursday, July 9
🎶 LacMus Education: Music Lab · 10:30 · Lake Como Landscape Museum, Tremezzo
🎹 LacMus Festival: Piano Reflections Among the Boats · 20:00 · Museum of Barca Lariana, Pianello del Lario
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