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🔹 Hello, Lake Como.
I’ve just come back from the mountains, where it seemed most of Europe (and half of Asia) had gone for a cooler shade.
It made me wonder: as summers get hotter, will a house in the mountains move much higher up everyone’s wish list? And if so, what might that mean for the mountain homes around Lake Como?
Funny timing, because this week’s global property report looks a lot like a European leaderboard. House price growth is slowing worldwide, but European countries dominate the top, and Italy recorded 5.2% annual growth. We unpack it below.
Back on Lake Como, it’s hard to hear Italian voices in the streets these days, but the biggest weekend of the summer is almost here: Ferragosto. If small-town festivals are your thing, there are quite a few coming up below.
Let’s get into it.
P.S. If you’re scanning restaurants for a good dinner this week, the former King of Spain stopped by Kitchen in Como during his visit. Just saying.
-Simona
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🔦 Spotlight: Europe Dominates the Global Property Ranking - Italy Is Up 5.2%
What's Happening:
House prices are still rising across most of the world, but with considerably less enthusiasm.
The new Knight Frank Global House Price Index puts average annual growth at 1.4% in Q1 2026, down from 2.3% in the previous quarter and the weakest result since Q3 2024.
Facts:
Italy ranked 27th out of 55 markets. Middle of the list, but growing at nearly four times the global average.
91% of the countries tracked still recorded annual price growth.
Europe dominates the ranking: 11 of the 12 markets growing above 10% are European, with Turkey completing the group. Central, Eastern and Southern Europe occupy most of the top positions.
Italy is not among Europe’s fastest-growing markets, but its 5.2% still beats the Netherlands (5%), Germany (2.5%), the UK (2.2%) and France (0.1%).
Mainland China finished last at -6.3%, followed by Canada at -5%.
What does it mean for us?
The interesting part is not simply that Italian property prices increased. They also increased after inflation, so this was genuine growth rather than higher prices looking good on paper.
For owners around Lake Como, it is a solid backdrop. For buyers waiting for a broad Italian property correction, there is still little evidence of one.
However, this is national data. It does not mean every house around Lake Como is suddenly worth 5.2% more. Our market behaves differently depending on the town, view, condition and quality of the property - often more than it follows the Italian average.
What’s your take?
Would this make you more or less likely to buy property this year?
⭐ In Case You Missed It
✈️ Global Mentions
👑 Royal Lenno. Former Spanish king Juan Carlos spent a few days at Villa Porto Felice in Lenno, with lunch at Kitchen.
🌸 Emma on Lake. Emma Watson was photographed arriving by boat at George Clooney’s Lake Como villa, wearing Zimmermann.
🎟️ Season Tickets. Como 1907 updated the 2026/27 season-ticket sales phases.
✨ Local Life
🚕 Bolt Arrives. Bolt is launching taxi and NCC bookings in Como.
💶 Paid Internships. Cernobbio shared paid internships for young people aged 15 to 34: 4 paths, 3 months, 20 hours a week, €500 allowance.
🧘 Yoga Trial. MYS Yoga Studio in Como Borghi is running open days from 7 to 11 September. One free trial class, limited spots, Via Petrarca 18.
🗑️ Smart Bins. Como installed its first smart bins on the new lake promenade.
🏛️ Business
🧠 Data Lake. Como 1907’s Data on the Lake hackathon brought builders, club data and Google DeepMind tools into the same room.
🧩 Collecto Bet. Como 1907 Ventures invested in Collecto at a €45m valuation. The startup sells fractional ownership in luxury collectibles, and Como is already connecting it to club drops.
🏠 House Deductions. If you did work on a property, this 730 guide is worth saving: renovation bonus, mortgage interest, rent deductions, furniture bonus and the documents you should not lose.
🏠 Real Estate
🏡 3 room villa, Nesso ($): €225K · 80m² ·
3 rooms, garage, energy efficiency: B.
View
🏡 Apartment with lake and garden views, Brienno ($$) €650K· 170m²
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, garden, lake views, 2 covered parking spaces.
🏡 Villa with infinity pool and lake views, Gravedona ed Unity ($$$) €1.25M· 260m² ·
New construction, will be completed this year. 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms.
View
🏢 Businesses for Sale
🥐 Cafe/Bar for transfer, Como historical center. €250K · 80 m² .
Recently renovated, high foot area. With the outdoor terrace. Rent €1350/month.🍽️ 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
🧑💼 CFO for textile and apparel industry (Como province). Gross annual salary between €90,000 and €100,000 + MBO and company car.
🏨 Group, Conference, and Events Sales Manager: Hilton (Como). 35K/Eur/year.
🧑💼 Sales Area Manager: BLM GROUP (Cantu). Technical background; English and Italian languages are needed.
Have a property, business, or job to feature? Submit it here
📅 Events This Week: Aug 13 to Aug 19
Thursday, August 13
CITY MARKET · 🛍️ Mercerie Market · morning · from Viale Battisti to Viale Varese, Como
SUNSET APERITIVO · 🌅 FAI Summer Evenings: Sunset Aperitif · 18:00 · La Velarca, Tremezzina
OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 É l’ultima battuta? · 21:00 · Area Feste Sant’Abbondio, Como
SACRED CONCERT · 🎺 Concert in Honour of San Cassiano · 21:00 · Chiesa Parrocchiale San Cassiano, Como
Friday, August 14
VILLA CONCERT · 🎼 Song from a Secret Garden · 11:00 · Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio
FERRAGOSTO FESTIVAL · 🎆 Mid-August in Tremezzina · Piazza XI Febbraio, Lenno
FERRAGOSTO FIREWORKS · 🎆 Gravedona Illuminated Boats + Fireworks · from 19:00; boat parade 21:00; fireworks after · Lakeside road, Gravedona ed Uniti
FERRAGOSTO DJ NIGHT · 🎧 Waiting for Ferragosto: DJ Freddy Barri · 22:00 to 01:00 · Piazza San Giorgio, Varenna
OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 Gioia mia · 21:00 · Area Feste Sant’Abbondio, Como
ORGAN VESPERS · 🎹 First Organ Vespers · 21:00 · Duomo, Como
Saturday, August 15
FERRAGOSTO FESTIVAL · 🎆 Mid-August in Tremezzina · Piazza XI Febbraio, Lenno
VILLA GALA · ✨ Midsummer Gala at Villa d’Este · evening · Villa d’Este, Cernobbio
FERRAGOSTO FIREWORKS · 🎇 Mid-August Fireworks in Menaggio · 22:30 · Menaggio lakeshore promenade
LAKESIDE FESTIVAL · ✨ Night of Lights on the Lake · from 10:00; fireworks 23:00 · Dervio + Cremia lakesides
FERRAGOSTO PARTY · 🎶 Colico Cover Night: Doctor Beat · 21:30 · Piazza Garibaldi, Colico
FERRAGOSTO FEST · 🎷 Gravedona Ferragosto Fest · from 19:30 · Piazza Trieste, Gravedona ed Uniti
Sunday, August 16
WELLNESS MORNING · 🧘 Hatha Yoga at Villa del Grumello · 09:15 · Cedro del Grumello, Como
JAZZ MATINÉE · 🎷 Alberto Buzzi, Alberto Guareschi, Albert Lefish · 11:00 · Grande Cedro, Villa del Grumello, Como
FERRAGOSTO FESTIVAL · 🎆 Mid-August in Tremezzina · programme by organiser · Piazza XI Febbraio, Lenno
FERRAGOSTO CLOSING NIGHT · 🎶 Gravedona Ferragosto Closing Night · from 19:30 · Piazza Trieste, Gravedona ed Uniti
The final night of the Gravedona programme, with dinner and music.
SINGING COMPETITION · 🎤 Floating Stage: The Voice of the Lake · 21:00 · Piazza XI Febbraio, Lenno
OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 Lady Nazca · 21:00 · Villa del Grumello, Como
Monday, August 17
FINAL DAY EXHIBITION · 🏛️ Riga Art Nouveau at Villa Bernasconi · final day; 10:00 to 18:00 · Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio
GUIDED VILLA TOUR · 🖼️ Greetings from Villa Carlotta · 11:00 · Villa Carlotta, Tremezzina
Tuesday, August 18
OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 No Other Choice · 21:00 · Area Feste Sant’Abbondio, Como
Wednesday, August 19
LAKE APERITIVO · 🍹 Da Luciano x Il Baretto: Lake-View Aperitivo · 18:30 · Piazza della Chiesa, Brienno
WELLNESS CLASS · 🧘 Pilates & Yoga Flow on Lake Como · 19:00 to 19:45 · Como Nuoto, Como
OPEN-AIR CINEMA · 🎬 No Other Choice · 21:00 · Area Feste Sant’Abbondio, Como
That’s all for this week!
If this email should be on someone else's Thursday, share it!
If you found a mistake, have an idea, event, or just want to chat about anything related to Lake Como or business, simply reply to this email.
