First tour: Lakefront, Visit Tempio Voltiano and Villa Olmo
Our first itinerary starts from the central square Piazza Cavour. Keeping the square behind you, walk along the lakefront to your left.
The first stop is a walk on Como's breakwater, a structure created to protect the city from wave surges. The barrier is 340 meters long, and at the end is installed a sculpture called The Life Electric" a project donated by sculptor Daniel Libeskind and dedicated to Alessandro Volta.
Alessandro volta was the inventor of the first electric generator and the battery, as well as the discoverer of methane gas. Underneath the sculpture you will find plenty of seatings to rest and admire both the city and the beautiful lake in front of you.
On continuing your walk, you arrive at the Volta Temple - Tempio Voltiano, a monument-museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta; lots of scientific instruments and documents concerning his life and discoveries are kept here.
Let's move on along the lakeshore and you will bump into several exciting attractions: the large memorial to World War I, the Yachting Club Como (the oldest Italian yachting club and among the oldest in the world) the seaplane departure station for tourist flights over the lake (you will surely witness takeoffs and landings!) and the Fraternal Friendship statue, a sculpture celebrating the twinning between Como and the Japanese city of Tokamachi, very famous for the production of silk kimonos.
Did you know that this twinning is due to a letter written by a little girl from Como to the mayor of Tokamachi? READ HERE.
Well, continue to follow the lakeshore on the bike path. On your left you can admire enchanting villas with parks and docks, in sequence:
⊛ Villa Saporiti - this was Napoleon Bonaparte's favourite villa, READ MORE HERE
⊛ Villa Gallia - the shelter meeting place for the Italian Patriots of that time, READ MORE HERE
⊛ Villa Parravicini-Revel
⊛ Until you finally arrive at the majestic Villa Olmo.
At the entrance to the park of Villa Olmo you will notice the monument dedicated to the Mariani d'Italia (it’s an installation with a large anchor) and the historical steamboat Patria, a spectacular steamship from the turn of the century, momentarily moored awaiting possible redevelopment.
Admission to Villa Olmo is free. There are no explanatory panels, and the villa does not display furnishings or works of art, but the majesty of the rooms and the large park are well worth a visit. There is also a delightful small private theater inside the building.
