🔹 Hello, Lake Como.

Welcome back to your private corner of the internet for the news, moving life and business around the lake.

Lake Como had the main character energy this week. The Olympic torch passed through towns, crowds went feral, and for a few hours, I swear, even the teenagers looked up from their phones.

If you were too busy dodging the torchbearer crowds to check your feed, here’s what happened:

  • 🔥 Miralago Apartments by Villa d’Este are opening

  • 🎭 Domaso Carnival starting

  • ⛳ We’ll have one more golf resort

…and some more.

Let’s get into it.

-Simona

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🔦 Spotlight: Back to the Office, They Say

What's Happening: According to the latest Savills Italian Office Spotlight, the Italian office market closed 2025 with a significant surge in activity, reaching €2 billion in total investment volume. The final quarter of the year saw a major acceleration, positioning the office sector as one of the most resilient and dynamic categories in the national real estate landscape.

Facts:

  • Milan Leads the Pack: The city remains the undisputed capital of the sector, attracting 70% of total investment volumes with 38 major transactions focused primarily on the Historic Centre and Porta Nuova districts.

  • The Grade A Preference: Quality is the top priority for tenants, with 75% of demand in Milan focused on Grade A spaces that meet high ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards.

  • Rising Rents: Intense competition for limited prime space has pushed rents in Milan’s central business districts to €780 per square meter annually, a 7% increase compared to last year.

  • Stable Yields: Prime net yields have remained steady at 4.25% in Milan and 4.75% in Rome, with experts predicting further compression in 2026 as core capital returns to the market.

What does it mean for us:

  • The Grade A Gap: Como currently lacks a deep inventory of "Grade A" ESG-certified offices. Food for thought: would it attract more Milanese/international activities if we did?

  • Regional Market Reality: The current data shows regional markets (outside of Milan and Rome) only capturing a small fraction of total activity. While cities like Bergamo and Torino are seeing some movement, Como might position itself better.

  • The Strategic Pivot: With Milan's prime rents hitting record highs of €780/sqm, the Como area’s "promising" future might depend on positioning itself as a high-quality, lower-cost alternative for firms that no longer require a central Milan address but still demand Milan-level standards.

What's your take? Are we missing anything important?

⭐ In Case You Missed It

🏗️ Local Projects & Life

  • 💧 The €500 Bonus. A breakdown of the Cohesion Decree incentives for those looking to request the self-employment bonus this year.

  • 🍷 Vineyard Boost. Lombardy opens the OCM Vino funds to support Lake Como’s local winemaker (only 1 made it).

  • 💼 Job Day Menaggio. The Alto Lago gears up for the season with a dedicated hiring event for the tourism and healthcare sectors.

💰 Real Estate & Business

  • 📉 Venus Says Goodbye. Venus nightclub in Como city announces its closure.

  • 📈 The Market Split. New data confirms 1 bedroom apartments are the stars of the rental market, while 3 bedroom apartments lead in sales.

  • ⚖️ Tax Watch. A refresher on the Cedolare Secca tax rates for short-term rentals and what landlords need to prepare for in 2026.

  • Miralago Debut. Villa d’Este announces the opening of the collection of luxury serviced apartments in Cernobbio.

🌍 Tourism & Global Mentions

  • 📍 April’s Crowds incoming. Travel and Leisure names Lake Como a must-visit for April, spotlighting the perfect window before the peak summer rush.

  • 🏗️ Corinthia Golf Resort. More details emerge on the transformation of the former Hotel Britannia into the ultra-luxury Corinthia Lake Como.

📱Trending this week:
Olympic Flame Arrived to Como

Instagram post

🏠 Real Estate

🏡 Auction for a Duplex in Blevio ($): €21K · 122m² ·

Basement, ground floor, first floor, and second floor. Auction will happen in 3/4/26.
View

🏡 3 Bedroom Apartment, Brunate ($$): €430K · 198m² ·

Elegant apartment in a semi-detached period villa. 3 bathrooms. Has an attic space, ideal as a hobby room, and private parking spaces. The roof was recently renovated (2025).
View

🏡 3 Bedroom Apartment, Brunate ($$): €900K · 185m² ·

The recently renovated lakeside house with garden and lake view. 2 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.
View

🏡 Penthouse in Cernobbio ($$$): €1.9M· 240m² ·

The penthouse in a historic villa on the lake. The villa has a park of over 3500 sqm with centuries-old trees.
View

🏢 Businesses for Sale

  • 🏢 Office for auction in Via Milano, Como. €171K · 166 m² . Energy efficiency: D, parking spot included, date of sale 3/18/26.
    View

  • 🍕 Bar with Hot Food Service for Transfer, Lecco. €49K · 62 m² · Rent - 740 Eur/month. In a strategic location, in the heart of an area with a high density of offices and commercial activities
    View

  • 🚗 Car Wash for transfer, Lecco. €350K · 1700 m² · Rent - 3400 Eur/month. Approximately 20,000 cars are washed per year. Price recently reduced.
    View

💼 Job Opportunities

  • 🏨 Deputy Director/ Resident Manager: Bellagio Belvedere (Bellagio). Primary responsibility - ensure the daily operation of the hotel.
    Apply

  • 🌌 CTO: Aerospace & GeoAI (Como). European deep-tech startup building stratospheric aerospace platforms.
    Apply

  • 💻 Sales Director (Cadorago). A prestigious German multinational recruiting via ROBERTSON ASSOCIATES Executive Search.
    Apply


Have a property, business, or job to feature? Submit it here

📅 Events This Week
Lake Como Events – This Week
Legend: ⚽ Sport · 🏛 Culture · 🎭 Theatre · 🎶 Music · 💼 Business · 🔥 Special
Thursday, February 5
Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio · Open Fri–Mon & holidays, 10:00–18:00 (check ticketing on-site)
Dervio (Food Village, Via alla Darsena) · Deadline Mon Feb 9, 12:00
Friday, February 6
Villa Carlotta, Tremezzina (Tremezzo) · 14:30–16:30
Sorico · 09:00–13:00 · Registration required (see event page)
Saturday, February 7
Villa Carlotta, Tremezzina (Tremezzo) · 10:30 · Duration ~90 min · Booking required
Oratorio di Villatico (Via Perlino 1), Colico · 20:45
Auditorium M. Ghisla, Colico · 21:00 · Free entry
Sunday, February 8
Piazza Trento, Domaso · 13:30 meet-up · 14:00 parade start
Oratorio di Villatico (Via Perlino 1), Colico · From 14:30
Monday, February 9
Dervio · Deadline 12:00

That’s all for this week!
If you found something interesting, make sure to forward this email to your curious friends.

Have something to share? Hit the reply button - I personally reply to all the emails.

- Simona

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