🔷 Quantum Computer Arrives in Como

🔹 Hello, Lake Como.

Last weekend, my Lithuanian girlfriends visited Lake Como. As the woman at the table next to us noted over dinner at Gatto Nero, nothing comes close to a girls’ weekend together. And mind you, she was celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary with her husband. Lovely couple.

It also happened to be the weekend of Centomiglia powerboat racing, Il Lombardia, FAI open days and two wine festivals. One of those friends spent a winter here four years ago, and her visit made me realise how much life here has changed since then.

The numbers tell part of the story: Como province recorded 3.93 million overnight stays between January and August - about 11% more than in the same period in 2024.

With numbers like that, it’s easy to focus on the traffic, the crowds, and whether life here is getting worse. But I’m also seeing investment in less developed towns, more cozy spots, more entrepreneurship, more cultural events, slowly improving infrastructure, and definitely more international vibes.

Or am I just being too optimistic here? Let’s settle this once and for all.

Let’s get into it.

-Simona

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What's Happening:

Italy’s annual flat tax on foreign income for eligible newcomers has tripled since its introduction in 2017, reaching €300K in 2026.

Meanwhile, JamesEdition’s latest analysis places Italy alongside Switzerland and Monaco for international interest in luxury homes.

Facts:

What does it mean for us?

On JamesEdition, Italian homes have asking prices closer to Greece, Malta and Cyprus. But they attract the kind of overseas interest seen in Switzerland and Monaco.

Italian homes below €3M get more than three times the average overseas interest for homes in the same price range.

My take: Italy has room to attract more overseas buyers, even with a more expensive tax deal. If that interest turns into purchases, buyers competing for a limited number of homes could push prices up in popular locations.

The next thing to watch is how many people actually buy. That will show whether today’s interest is turning into lasting demand.

☀️ Renewable Fund Opens. Como province has opened a €690K fund for municipal renewable-energy projects. Applications close 30 November.

🌍 Export Grant Extended. Local small businesses can get back half the cost of attending an overseas trade fair, up to €5K. The new deadline is 31 October, if funds are still available.

⚛️ Quantum. A D-Wave quantum computer with more than 4,400 qubits will be unveiled at Villa Saporiti on Friday - the first of this model installed in Italy.

📰 Vogue Visits EDITION. Vogue featured the new 148-room hotel in Cadenabbia, calling it a more modern take on Lake Como luxury.

🎬 Spazio Gloria Closed. Como has closed the Via Varesina cinema because it does not have the required fire-safety certificate. Its operator has 60 days to provide the missing documents.

🌐 Faster Internet Incoming. Fibre installation is complete across 145 towns in Como province. More than 144,000 properties can now request faster internet.

🎟️ Four-Game Pass. Como’s new mini season ticket covers the home games against Venezia, Cagliari, Juventus and Bologna. General sales begin on 19 October if seats remain.

♻️ Sentimental Art. Como architect Filippo Brambilla is turning old Curva Ovest seats into modular furniture through his POSTO project.

🏨 EDITION Officially Sold. Bain Capital and Omnam have sold the new Cadenabbia hotel to Thailand’s Sansiri Capital. The price was not disclosed.

🏭 Mill Museum Contest. A new competition is looking for ideas to turn part of Bellano’s former Cantoni cotton mill into a museum. The winning design could be built, but this is not guaranteed.

🧳 3.9M nights. Como province recorded 3.93 million overnight stays from January to August, the third-highest total in Lombardy.

🧬 Lecco Health Zone. Lecco’s plan to grow its rehabilitation, medical-technology and healthy-ageing industries has moved to the next development stage.

THU 15–FRI 16 OCT

BUSINESS & TECH · 💻 Digital Innovation Forum
AI, venture capital, and quantum-computing sessions continue through Friday and are available to watch live.
Villa Erba, Cernobbio · Livestream available.

FRI 16–SUN 18 OCT

CLIMBING · 🧗 Lecco Climbing Festival
The Ragni di Lecco turn 80 with international climbers, urban bouldering, films and talks.
Fri from 13:00; Sat–Sun from 09:00 · Venues across Lecco · Selected activities require registration.

SAT 17–SUN 18 OCT

WELLNESS · 🌿 The Longevity Retreat
A two-day reset with a longevity check-up, breathwork, sound healing, spa treatments and meals at Renzo.
The Lake Como EDITION, Cadenabbia · Limited places; booking required

SAT 17 OCT

WELLNESS · 🧘 Yoga & Breakfast at Villa Bernasconi
Yoga in the villa’s tower, followed by breakfast from Piccole Stelle.
10:00 · Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio · Booking required; bring your own mat.

ROWING · 🚣 Trofeo Villa d’Este
The historic regatta returns to Como’s first basin.
14:00 · Tempio Voltiano–Villa Olmo, Como · Watch from the Villa Olmo promenade.

FOOD & ARCHITECTURE · 🍽️ Dinner with FAI: Memoriale Brion
A Treviso-inspired dinner at Balbianello, linked to Carlo Scarpa’s Memoriale Brion.
19:00–23:00 · Villa del Balbianello, Tremezzina · Booking required; boat from Lenno included.

WED 21 OCT

FOOTBALL · ⚽ Como 1907 v Manchester United
Como host Manchester United in the Champions League.
18:45 · Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como