🔷 The Price of a View

🔹 Hello, Lake Como.

Orticolario opened today and runs through Sunday at Villa Erba. It’s one of my favourite events of the year - although, to be fair, Villa Erba could probably host a tax seminar, and I’d still love to go.

While you’re strolling through the gardens this weekend, remember that there was already a monastery here in 966 AD. Maybe that’s part of what makes Lake Como feel different from places like Lake Lugano. There’s history everywhere here, and somehow you can feel it.

We’re making some new history too: Como 1907 launched a virtual version of the city, Como 1907 Women just beat AC Milan 4:1, and Centomiglia powerboat racing returns next weekend for its 77th edition.

Let’s get into it.

-Simona

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here. It’s free.

What's Happening:

Lake Como prices vary enormously depending on where you buy.

Tecnocasa’s latest holiday-home report puts the range at around €1,200/m² in Perledo and €6,000–7,000/m² for prime lakefront homes in Como.

Buyer profiles, budgets, and rental strategies also change quite a lot around the lake.

Facts:

What does it mean for us?

Prices around Lake Como are not made equal.

A buyer looking in Como, Varenna or Perledo can be dealing with completely different budgets, property types and buyer profiles, even within the same broader market.

The rental side is changing too. More B&Bs are coming onto the market, while some owners are moving back towards transitory or traditional long-term rentals. That makes short-term renting a less straightforward investment decision than it was a few years ago.

💻 Free Funding Workshop. ComoNExT is running a free online workshop on 6 October, covering a Lombardy grant that funds up to 80% of eligible innovation costs.

🤖 AI Festival. AI workshops and talks come to the Sheraton Lake Como on 8 October, with a focus on practical business applications. Registration required; some events are free.

☀️ Free Solar Support. Confapi Lecco Sondrio has opened a free helpdesk for member SMEs considering solar panels.

⚽ Como 1907 Women Win. Como beat AC Milan 4–1 to secure the club’s first victory in Serie A Women.

🏨 De Santis Expands. The family behind Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua has reportedly acquired Tuscany’s 61-room L’Andana resort.

🕹️ Como World Launches. Como 1907 has launched the beta of an open-world game featuring the Duomo, lakefront, Sinigaglia, and other Como landmarks.

🏃 UTLAC Registration Opens. Registration is open for the 2027 Lake Como Ultra Trail, with five distances running from 5 to 9 May.

⚠️ Friday Train Strike. A national strike may disrupt Trenord services tomorrow from 11:00 to 14:00.

☕ Caffè Unione Returns. Lecco’s historic Piazza Garibaldi café is preparing to reopen.

🏟️ Stadium Goes Corporate. Como 1907 is opening the Sinigaglia’s terraces, Clubhouse, Trophy Room and executive suites to corporate and private events.

🧵 Gentili Mosconi Grows. The Como luxury-textile group increased first-half revenue by 35% to €31.9M and returned to profit. Excluding acquisitions, revenue still grew 11.7%.

🍸 289 Bars Lost. Como province had 1,263 bars in 2025, down 289 - or 18.6% - since 2019.

🌍 Gulf Buyers Favour Como. Lake Como ranked as the most searched Italian destination among Gulf property buyers, accounting for 8.26% of enquiries.

🏘️ Student Housing Starts. Construction has started on a new student residence designed to ease Como’s shortage of university accommodation.

🏗️ La Piccola Restarts. Lecco has signed a six-year concession with S.A.Gest, which will invest more than €730K in cultural, coworking, food and event spaces.

THU 1–SUN 4 OCT

DESIGN & GARDENS · 🌿 Orticolario 2026 → Recommended by BCC
More than 250 exhibitors, competition gardens and installations take over Villa Erba.
Thu 15:00–19:00; Fri–Sun 09:00–19:00 · Villa Erba, Cernobbio · Ticket required

FRI 2 OCT

SCIENCE · 🔬 Nobel Laureates at the Festival of Light
Alain Aspect and William Phillips close the festival with quantum entanglement and laser cooling.
14:30–17:00 · Chiostro di Sant’Abbondio, Como · Free; booking required

SAT 3 OCT

SPORT · 🏊 Seven Swim Race
Three open-water routes: 200 metres, 1.8 kilometres and 3.6 kilometres.
Registration from 08:00; races from 10:00 · Spiaggia La Breva, Colico · Registration required

LIVE MUSIC · 🎹 Alessandro Martire: Places of Music
The Como pianist presents his new album with orchestra and sound design.
20:30 · Teatro Sociale, Como · Ticket required

SUN 4, TUE 6–WED 7 OCT

CONTEMPORARY ART · 🧵 Miniartextil 35
Textile works and large installations from more than 30 countries fill different Como venues.
Sun 11:00–19:00; Tue–Wed 15:00–19:00 · Multiple venues, Como · Ticket required