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97-492: The Odescalchi family were entrepreneurs from the minor nobility of Como . They trace their family line to Giorgio Odescalchi of Como, born around 1290. Pietro Giorgio Odescalchi was Bishop of Alessandria (1598–1610) and then Bishop of Vigevano (1610–1620). In 1619, Benedetto's brother and three uncles founded a bank in Genoa , which grew into a successful money-lending business. After completing his studies in grammar and letters,

194-879: A Roman count / Roman countess . The comital title, which can be for life or hereditary, has been awarded in various forms by popes and Holy Roman Emperors since the Middle Ages, and the pope continued to grant the comital and other noble titles even after 1870, when the Papal States were taken from the pope . Recipients of such honours included both Italians – especially those close to the papacy (some of whom were/are papal relatives) – and prominent non-Italian Catholics, including Irish tenor John McCormack , Irish art historian and politician George Noble Plunkett , American financier George MacDonald, American philanthropist Katherine E. Price , and Rose Kennedy (mother of U.S. president John F. Kennedy ). American Francis Augustus MacNutt

291-566: A lordship over the town with varying degrees of success. Loterio Rusca was the first to attempt this goal. He was acclaimed "Lord of the People" in 1276 and, with the trust of the Comaschi, he began his rise to power. However, he faced resistance from the bishop of Como, Giovanni degli Avvocati , who was consequently exiled. Giovanni was hosted by the Visconti of Milan, providing Ottone Visconti with

388-753: A certain district appointed by the Exarch. The Duchies of Rome , Perugia and Pentapolis were established in this context. In 751 the Exarchate of Ravenna fell to the Lombards. Five years later, Pepin the Short , King of the Franks, defeated the Lombards and granted the lands of the Duchy of Rome to the Papacy. The Lombard Duchies of Spoleto and Benevento existed within the future lands of

485-545: A fish grown in Lake Como, prepared with white wine, onion, butter and wheat. In Como, a medieval festival called Palio del Baradello takes place annually. The first edition took place in 1981. The event is organized every year to narrate to the citizens and tourists the events that happened in 1159 when the town hosted the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and aided him in his fight against

582-417: A grand parade where all the participants march across the town in medieval costumes, accompanied by animals, wagons, and replicas of siege engines , culminating in a ceremony where the emperor announces to the public which ward won the competition. The heraldic achievement of Como consists of a white cross on a red background. This symbol was used in the Middle Ages to represent the town's political faction,

679-585: A member of the papal court as a Chamberlain of the Sword and Cape . Among Maloney's various charitable activities was a home for the elderly in honor of his parents, donations to the Catholic University of America , and towards the refurbishment of the Lateran Basilica . In 1903, Leo created New York City socialite and benefactress Annie Leary a Papal Countess, the first such title to have been bestowed upon

776-607: A member of their family as an official cardinal-nephew . Certain offices of the Curia and the Papal Household carry honorifics, such as the style monsignor . Just as Catholic monarchs sometimes exercised veto powers in papal elections, bishops and abbots were historically represented in the parliaments or "estates-general" (legislative and consultative assemblies) of many countries. The archbishops of Mainz , Trier , and Cologne served as ex officio prince-electors of

873-464: A pretext to start a new war against Como. Unexpectedly, Loterio prevailed and signed a favorable peace treaty with Milan in the town of Lomazzo . Milan was forced to recognize Loterio as the ruler of their rival town and return the town of Bellinzona to Como. Thanks to this success, the family secured titles such as Lords of Como, Bellinzona, Chiavenna , and Valtellina , as well as Counts of Locarno , Lugano , and Luino . Following Loterio's death,

970-539: A rebellion against the Milanese, which ended in 1412 when his son, Loterio IV Rusca , gained the title of Lord of Como and drove out the Milanese occupiers. However, this did not end the political unrest, and a period of conflicts and massacres ensued until Como once again fell under the control of Filippo Maria Visconti , becoming part of the Duchy of Milan in 1416. At the Duke's death, Como reclaimed its independence, and in 1447,

1067-521: A rivalry between the Guelphs and Ghibellines – the parties favoring Pope and Emperor, respectively – that roiled the cities of Northern Italy. Papal power was retained, but the Popes frequently fled Rome for the safety of Orvieto, Perugia and Viterbo. The instability of the communes gradually gave way to the stabilizing influence of the podesta or signoria . Gradually, magnates of certain powerful families (such as

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1164-614: A self-described " prisoner in the Vatican ", supported by the so-called " black nobility " of families who remained loyal to the papacy rather than the Italian monarchy. The Lateran Treaty ended this dispute. Pope Leo XIII ennobled French and American philanthropist Joseph Florimond Loubat as the Duc de Loubat . In 1902 he made Pennsylvania businessman Martin Maloney a papal marquis, and two years later

1261-593: A significant victory that established Milan as the dominant power in Lombardy. This left the Commune of Como as Milan's only remaining rival. Tensions escalated when Emperor Henry IV appointed Landolfo da Carcano, who sympathized with Milan, as the bishop of Como. In response, the people of Como elected Guido Grimoldi as their bishop and exiled Landolfo. Despite his exile, Landolfo continued to interfere in Como's affairs, prompting

1358-711: A stroke), and was created a cardinal in January 1714. He died in Milan on 13 December 1740. Carlo Odescalchi , S.J., was the son of Prince Baldassare Erba-Odescalchi, and Valeria Caterina Giustiniani. His family was in exile in Hungary during his youth, having fled the French forces of First Consul Bonaparte. He obtained a Doctorate in Civil and Canon Law. Pope Pius VII sent him on several minor diplomatic missions to Hungary. He became Auditor (Judge) of

1455-467: A treaty basis," bound by an oath of adhesion to the commune, which was renewed periodically in front of municipal authorities until the 1200s, and later in the presence of the mayor. Despite resistance from parts of the feudal nobility of the diocese , this pact quickly extended to the entire free male population of the town. This expansion aimed to strengthen the political independence of Como and its diocese, especially from neighboring Milan , and to affirm

1552-724: A woman in the United States. Pope Pius X named New York City builder John D. Crimmons a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great . A trustee of St. Patrick’s Cathedral , Crimmons established Corpus Christi Monastery at Hunts Point in the Bronx for the Dominican Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. On the occasion of the signing of the Lateran Accords of 1929, the Italian government recognized

1649-753: Is a city and comune (municipality) in Lombardy , Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como . Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has made Como a tourist destination, and the city contains numerous works of art, churches, gardens, museums, theatres, parks, and palaces: the Duomo , seat of the Diocese of Como ; the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio ; the Villa Olmo ;

1746-540: Is allegedly descended from Enrico Erba, Imperial vicar of Milan around 1165. Their son Antonio Maria (1624-1694)was granted the title of marquess of Mondonico in 1684. He had three sons : Alessandro, founder of the Erba Odescalchi line, Baldassare, founder of the Odescalchi line, and Benedetto , a cardinal. The Erba Odescalchi line, though senior, did not inherit the bulk of the Odescalchi inheritance. They inherited

1843-730: Is also a stop on the main north–south line between Milan Centrale and Zürich HB and Basel SBB . Intercity and EuroCity trains stop at this station, which makes Como very accessible from the European Express train network. The lakeside funicular connects the centre of Como with Brunate , a small village (1,800 inhabitants) on a mountain at 715 m (2,346 ft) above sea level . The local public transport network comprises 11 urban (within city limits) lines and 'extra-urban' (crossing city limits) (C) lines connecting Como with most of its province centres. They are provided by ASF Autolinee . Papal nobility The papal nobility are

1940-400: Is nominated and presided over by a directly elected Mayor ( Sindaco ). The mayor of Como since 27 June 2022, is Alessandro Rapinese, an independent leading an alliance bearing his name (Rapinese Sindaco), unaffiliated with any official political party. Como is divided into these frazioni (roughly equivalent to the anglocentric ward ): The economy of Como, until the end of the 1980s,

2037-420: Is one of these. Situated at the southern tip of the south-west arm of Lake Como, the city is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Milan; the city proper borders Switzerland and the communes of Blevio , Brunate , Capiago Intimiano , Casnate con Bernate , Cernobbio , Grandate , Lipomo , Maslianico , Montano Lucino , San Fermo della Battaglia , Senna Comasco , Tavernerio , and Torno , and

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2134-531: Is subject to thunderstorms and occasionally violent hailstorms . The legislative body of the Italian comuni is the City Council ( Consiglio Comunale ); in Como, it comprises 32 councillors elected every five years with a proportional system, at the same time of the mayoral elections. The executive body is the City Committee ( Giunta Comunale ), composed of 9 assessori each overseeing a specific ministry, that

2231-645: The Memorias de la Academia Mallorquina de Estudios Genealógicos and approved by King Alfonso XIII of Spain . From the sixteenth century forward, strong statehood developed in Italy and vague, overlapping territorial claims were gradually determined and settled through conquest and treaty. Although temporal rule in Italy was theoretically shared with the Holy Roman Emperor , the papacy held most of Lazio , Umbria , Le Marche , and parts of Emilia-Romagna directly from

2328-764: The Bayreuth Festival , and Antonio Sant'Elia (1888–1916), a futurist architect and a pioneer of the modern movement. The hills surrounding the current location of Como were inhabited, since at least the Iron Age , by a Celtic tribe known as the Orobii , who also, according to Pliny the Elder and modern scholars, had relations with the Ancient Ligurians , a people very similar to the Celts. Remains of settlements are still present on

2425-450: The County of Seprio , as both communes sought control of the area. Meanwhile, Milan acted aggressively against other Lombard towns, leading to the outbreak of the war of Lodi when soldiers from Lodi , Pavia , and Cremona attacked Tortona , an ally of Milan. In this conflict, Milan, supported by Crema and Tortona, fought against the communes of Lodi, Pavia, and Cremona, ultimately achieving

2522-498: The Ghibellines . The first recorded mention of this emblem dates back to the decennial war between Como and Milan (1118–1127). An anonymous poet from Como described the coat of arms in his poem about the war as "rubra signa" (Latin: "red symbol") and "cum cruce alba" (Latin: "with a white cross"). Later, the motto 'LIBERTAS' (Latin: 'Freedom') was added to the town's heraldic achievement. The oldest testament of this symbol comes from

2619-570: The Holy Roman Empire . Within the Empire, prince-primates , prince-bishops and prince-abbots often held territorial privileges. Count / Countess is one of the noble titles still granted by the Pope as a mark of personal distinction without any territorial entailment. The holder is styled Count X / Countess X and may be informally referred to as a papal count / papal countess or, more rarely, as

2716-867: The Ordelaffi , the Manfredi , the Scaligeri , the Malatesta , the Da Polenta , the Bentivoglio , the d'Este , and the Da Montefeltro ) began to establish hereditary lordships and expand their power to neighboring towns. During the Papal exile, Cardinal Gil de Albornoz was commissioned by Innocent VI to subdue the independent states. When the Pope returned to Italy at the end of the fourteenth century, he had to either overthrow or force

2813-577: The Patrimony of St. Peter rather than creating intermediate feudatories. However, the Roman baronial families exerted enormous control. The Counts of Tusculum held enormous influence over the papacy for a period, installing several of their own family members. Up through the Renaissance, the papacy was intermittently threatened by the violent struggle between the noble families. The late middle ages were marked by

2910-706: The Vatican Secretariat of State . John Paul II granted several noble titles to Polish compatriots at the beginning of his pontificate, but quietly and without their being published in the Acts of the Apostolic See . The popes continue to award knighthoods and other honors , which do not confer titled-nobility status, with the exception of Count of the Sacred Palace of the Lateran . Historically, papal nobility has included

3007-610: The aristocracy of the Holy See , composed of persons holding titles bestowed by the Pope . From the Middle Ages into the nineteenth century, the papacy held direct temporal power in the Papal States , and many titles of papal nobility were derived from fiefs with territorial privileges attached. During this time, the Pope also bestowed ancient civic titles such as patrician . Today, the Pope still exercises authority to grant titles with territorial designations, although these are purely nominal and

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3104-464: The service industry sector. A significant number of residents are employed in the nearby Swiss towns Lugano and Mendrisio , primarily in the industrial sector , health care services and in the hospitality industry ; the 30 km (19 mi) commute is beneficial as wages in Switzerland are notably higher. For these reasons, tourism has become increasingly important for the city's economy since

3201-631: The "Republic of Saint Abundius" was founded. In January 1449, Francesco Sforza , who claimed the title of Duke of Milan (though the city was under the control of the Ambrosian Republic ), sent Giuseppe Ventimiglia to attack Como. He was repelled by the citizens led by Giovanni della Noce , forcing him to retreat to Cantù , in Brianza . Monzone assisted the Rusca against the Vitani, who were Guelphs allied with

3298-439: The 15-year-old Benedetto moved to Genoa to take part in the family business as an apprentice. The family established lucrative financial transactions with clients in major Italian and European cities, such as Nuremberg , Milan , Kraków , and Rome . Benedetto Odescalchi reigned as Pope Innocent XI from 1676 until 1689. His male-line nephew Livio Odescalchi was granted by his uncle the Duchy of Ceri. After his participation to

3395-532: The 15th Century. It was restored when the town proclaimed its independence from the Lordship of Milan , but censored again as Milan regained control over Como. The motto was restored one last time after the unification of Italy , as otherwise the town's coat of arms would have been too similar to the arms of the House of Savoy , which were included in the heraldic achievement of the newly born Kingdom of Italy . Curiously,

3492-674: The 1683 Battle of Vienna , he was granted the Duchy of Syrmia (around Ilok Castle , now divided between Serbia and Croatia ) and the dignity of prince of the Holy Roman Empire by Leopold I . He also brought the Duchy of Bracciano from the Orsini family. Livio Odescalchi died in 1713 without a male line heir and all this titles and estate went to his cousin Baldassare Erba Odescalchi. Innocent XI's sister, Lucrezia Odescalchi, had married Alessandro Erba in 1621. The Erba family

3589-735: The Ambrosian Republic, due to exhaustion and lack of resources. Como was definitively subjected to the reconstituted Duchy of Milan under Francesco Sforza, who in 1458 profoundly reformed the Statutes of Como. Subsequently, the history of Como followed that of the Duchy of Milan , through the French invasion and the Spanish domination, until 1714, when the territory was taken by the Austrians. Napoleon descended into Lombardy in 1796 and ruled it until 1815, when

3686-505: The Austrian rule was resumed after the Congress of Vienna . By 1848, the population had reached 16,000. In 1859, with the arrival of Giuseppe Garibaldi , the town became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy . The Rockefeller fountain that today stands in the Bronx Zoo in New York City was once in the main square (Piazza Cavour ) by the lakeside. It was bought by William Rockefeller in 1902 for Lire  3,500 (the estimated equivalent then of $ 637). At

3783-406: The Commune of Como dates back to 1109. Initially, the deliberative assembly of the commune was likely the plenary assembly . In the early 12th century , the role of this assembly was assumed by the council (or "Credenza"), known after 1213 as the "General council" or "Bell council". From the second half of the 13th century, this assembly was divided into a large and a small council. Starting in 1109,

3880-412: The Commune of Como with an imperial diploma in 1175 ( Concession of Frederick I 1175 ), allowing the town to elect the mayors of the county. This was a reward for Como's defection from the Lombard League and its shared anti-Milan policy. Subsequent agreements in 1191 and 1216 saw Emperors Henry VI and Frederick II extend additional concessions to Como, similar to those made in the Peace of Constance to

3977-448: The Holy Roman, Empire, Duke of Syrmia, Ceri and Bracciano) were confirmed in 1714 to Baldassare Erba, who took the name Odescalchi. His descendants settled in Rome as part of the highest rank of pontical nobility. The Pope's grand-nephew Cardinal Benedetto Erba Odescalchi held a doctorate in Civil and Canon Law (Pavia, 1700), and was Papal Nuncio in Poland from 1712 to 1714. He was named Archbishop of Milan in 1712 (resigning in 1736 after

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4074-416: The Holy See. The title "Count of the Sacred Palace of the Lateran " is an honour that is granted ex officio and ad vitam to those who have been created Pontifical Chamberlains (now styled as Gentlemen of His Holiness ) as attendants to the Pontifical Court. Additionally, the honour was collectively granted to the Spanish chapters of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre , the only purely noble chapters of

4171-420: The Hungarian nobility. In the 20th century, Prince Karoly Odescalchi and his son, Prince Paul, were members of the Hungarian resistance to Nazism , as well as Communism . Como Como ( Italian: [ˈkɔːmo] , locally [ˈkoːmo] ; Comasco : Còmm [ˈkɔm] , Cómm [ˈkom] or Cùmm [ˈkum] ; Latin : Novum Comum )

4268-436: The Jesuits. He died in Modena in 1841. The head of the family now is the representative of several noble titles, but none are recognized in Italy : Prince Odescalchi ( papal nobility and nobility of the Holy Roman Empire ), Duke of Syrmia ( hungarian nobility with the former dignity of Magnate), prince of Bassano and Duke of Bracciano ( italian nobility , formerly with the dignity of Grandee of Spain). The family owns

4365-409: The Milanese, ultimately defeating them with Ghibelline forces. In April 1449, Ventimiglia attacked Como again, and in January 1450, he unsuccessfully attacked the Ambrosian garrisons in Monza , intended to reunite with the Venetians of Colleoni to support Milan against Sforza. These events, known as the Battles of Cantù and Asso , culminated in March 1450 when Como was defeated following the fall of

4462-407: The Official Acts of the Holy See. The Roman heritage of the papacy accounts for many of its traditions regarding ranks of nobility. As temporal ruler of the city of Rome, the Pope awarded civic titles of classical origin such as Patrician and Summus Senator . The Roman title of Dux originally applied to a military leader. During the Byzantine period , it came to refer to the military governor of

4559-464: The Palazzo Odescalchi in Rome and the Orsini-Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano , as well as large estates in Italy. The castle in Bracciano was originally an Orsini family fortress until it was sold to pay debts. The family is currently represented by Carlo Odescalchi (b.1954), whose heir is his son Baldassare Odescalchi (b.1993). A junior member of the house, prince Augusto Odescalchi (1808-1848) settled in Hungary. His descendants were integrated in

4656-411: The Palio del Baradello, the town is divided into its historical wards called "Borghi" (in Lombard : "Burgh" ) Tavernola, Quarcino, Rebbio, Camerlata, Cernobbio , Cortesella and Sant'Agostino. The first day hosts the opening ceremony while in the following days the factions compete in different races to determine which district will win the year's edition. The final day of the festival consists of

4753-404: The Papal States, Pius VII decided to abolish feudalism, transforming all the titles to honorifics disconnected from territorial privileges. In 1853, Pius IX put an end to the centuries-old duality between the papal nobility and the Roman baronial families by equating the civic patrichiate of the city of Rome with the nobility created by the Pope. In 1854 a complete list of Roman princely families

4850-420: The Papal States. Under the Carolingian empire, the County (also derived from a Roman precedent; Comes , Comitatus ), was instituted as the basic jurisdictional unit centered on a fortified town or castle. The march or mark, ruled by a marquis (or "march count") was a border territory with defensive significance. The status of Count Palatine also emerged for high officers of the Imperial household. Key to

4947-418: The Roman nobility when a relative was elected to the papal throne. Modern Italy is dotted with the fruits of their success; various family palazzi remain standing today as a testament to their sometimes meteoric rise to power. From the second half of the 16th century onwards, members of the higher clergy and the aristocracy connected to the papal court built a number of stately homes, or suburban villas in

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5044-445: The Sacred Roman Rota in 1815, and joined the restored Society of Jesus in 1818. He was promoted Auditor of His Holiness and Canon of the Vatican Basilica. On 10 March 1823 Odescalchi was created a cardinal and named Archbishop of Ferrara; he resigned the diocese in 1826 to pursue a higher career in the Papal Curia as Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. He was named Bishop of Sabina in 1833; he resigned in 1838 to return to

5141-494: The Swiss towns of Chiasso and Vacallo . Nearby major cities are Varese , Lecco , and Lugano . According to the Köppen climate classification , Como has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ); until the late 20th century winters used to be quite cold, with average daily temperatures well below freezing; recently, occasional periods of frost from the Siberian Anticyclone have been recorded; however, due to global warming average temperatures in winter have gradually risen since

5238-410: The Two Tribunals of Justice and Grace in 1739. He was named a cardinal in 1759 and given the office of Vicar-General of the Pope for the City of Rome. He died in 1762. The Erba Odescalchi of Monteleone emigrated in Hungary in the early 19th c. and went extinct in 1924. Their titles were inherited by the Cech Erba Odescalchi family, extinct in 1979. The titles of Livio Odescalchi (prince Odescalchi of

5335-431: The beginning of the 21st century, when the city saw its population grow again by more than six thousand units, generally due to increasing immigration from Asia, Eastern Europe and North Africa. As of January 2023, the population was 83,700 people of which 12,000 were resident aliens, that is, 14% of the total; the population distribution by origin was as follows: Top 20 nationalities of resident aliens: In Como there are

5432-426: The boundaries between imperial and papal territory solidified, titles of nobility were proliferated as a means of establishing allies and friendly buffer states. The Emperor elevated the Duchies of Milan, Florence, Mantua, and Modena, and the Pope likewise elevated the Duchies of Urbino, Ferrara and Parma. From the late sixteenth century onward, with the papal territory relatively secure, noble families were enriched with

5529-422: The cities participating in the League. In 1281, Como adopted its first written legislative code, the "Statuta Consulum Iustitie et Negotiatorum", followed by a second code in 1296. In the second half of the 12th century, the Rusca family (also known as Rusconi) began to gain prominence in the town of Como. The Rusca were a noble family originating in Como in the 10th century. They led the Ghibelline faction in

5626-442: The city's attractiveness and given a further boost to international tourism; since the early 2000s the city has become a popular "must-see" tourist destination in Italy. The city of Como has seen its population increase until it peaked at almost 100,000 inhabitants in the 1970s, when manufacturing, especially the silk industry, was in its boom years. As production began to decline, the population tally decreased by almost 20,000 until

5723-439: The coat of arms of Como is often represented with a curvature and surrounded by floral elements. The crown is another important element of the heraldic achievement. A crown appeared in the coats of arms of Como reported on some municipal posters in 1796. On 9 November 1819, Francis I of Austria , Emperor of the Austria , recognized Como as a "Royal Town": that is when the crown (five-pointed and studded with gems) officially entered

5820-462: The coat of arms. In the version that came in 1859, the crown is topped with six gold fleurs-de-lis (only the front three visible). Throughout history, Como has used the Cross of Saint John as its flag: a white cross over a red field. Around the 12th Century, the city started to fly a version of this banner that included the word "LIBERTAS" in the bottom right corner, as represented in the town's heraldic achievement . This flag can be seen displayed at

5917-428: The communal organization included an executive body called the "collegial magistracy of the consuls". Before 1172, this body was divided into two institutions: the consuls of justice and the consuls of the municipality. In the early 13th century, the latter were replaced by the podestà , who had broader special powers in criminal matters. The territory of the Commune extended beyond the town of Como itself, encompassing

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6014-402: The construction of several defensive towers and small castles around the town's limits, of which only the Baradello remains. He also assisted the town in rebuilding its defensive walls, most of which still survive today. When the Guelph communes organized the Lombard League to oppose the Holy Roman Emperor, Como maintained its Ghibelline alignment. Frederick I Barbarossa formally recognized

6111-400: The countryside of Lazio. The Ville Pontificie were designed by renowned architects. The Villa Farnese in Caprarola was the work of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and Baldassare Peruzzi . The homes were often decorated by noted artists. Taddeo Zuccari was commissioned to paint the Histories of Alexander for the Castello Orsini at Bracciano . As modern statehood emerged and

6208-418: The death of Guido Grimoldi, the tide turned, and Como lost the war in 1127. Milanese soldiers destroyed every building in Como, sparing only the churches. After the war, the Commune was forced to pay tribute to Milan. However, this changed when Frederick Barbarossa came to power and restored Como's independence from Milan. The Comaschi avenged their defeat when Milan was destroyed in 1162. Frederick promoted

6305-588: The election of Pope John XXIII in 1958. In 1968, Paul VI reformed the papal court via the apostolic letter Pontificalis Domus , which reorganized the court into the Pontifical Household . At this time he also declared that the papal nobility would no longer be a constituent body in the Pontifical Household. Although the custom of conferring noble titles such as prince , duke , marquis , count , and baron has since essentially disappeared, Pope John Paul II ennobled several distinguished individuals during his pontificate, as did Pope Benedict XVI , through

6402-443: The end of World War II, after passing through Como on his escape towards Switzerland, Benito Mussolini was taken prisoner and then shot by partisans in Giulino di Mezzegra , a small town on the north shores of Lake Como . In 2010, a motion by members of the nationalist Swiss People's Party was submitted to the Swiss parliament requesting the admission of adjacent territories to the Swiss Confederation ; Como (and its province)

6499-699: The entire diocese, which included most of present-day Province of Como , modern-day Canton of Ticino , Valtellina , Valchiavenna , and Colico . Thanks to its strategic position on Lake Como and the important Road of Queen Theudelind , which linked the Italian Peninsula with Germany : the heart of the Holy Roman Empire , Como quickly became a wealthy and powerful town. During this period of growth, Como and Milan quickly became rivals. The Commune of Milan experienced significant population growth but lacked strategic communication routes. Consequently, Milan planned to conquer neighboring territories to gain access to their strategic positions. Tensions first arose over

6596-448: The feudal sovereignty of Naples-Sicily. While some titles were traditionally linked to territorial privileges to a fief of the Papal States , others were associated only with privileges of court, notably, Prince Assistant to the Papal Throne . Within the ecclesiastical hierarchy Cardinals are referred to as Princes of the Church , and are considered analogous to temporal princes within a kingdom. Historically, many popes have designated

6693-507: The following museums and exhibition centres: Polenta is a popular dish in Como, and was traditionally eaten for meals in wintertime. It is obtained by mixing and cooking corn flour and buckwheat . It is usually served with meat, game, cheese and sometimes fish; in fact, Polenta e Misultin ( Alosa agone ) is served in the restaurants in the Lake Como area. A traditional dish is the Risotto con Filetti di Pesce Persico or simply Risotto al Pesce Persico ( European perch filet risotto ),

6790-504: The heiress of the Duchy of Urbino . Paul III created the Duchy of Parma out of conquered territory for the Farnese . Prominent families could purchase curial offices for their sons and regularly did, hoping that the son would rise through Church ranks to become a bishop cardinal, or even Pope, from which position they could dispense further titles and positions of authority to other family members. Bourgeois families found themselves, sometimes within only one or two generations, elevated to

6887-457: The late 1990s, when local small businesses have gradually been replaced by bars, restaurants and hotels. With about 400 thousand overnight guests in 2023, Como was one of the most visited cities in Lombardy. The city and the lake have been chosen as the filming location for various recent popular feature films, and this, together with the increasing presence of celebrities such as Matt Bellamy who have bought lakeside properties, has heightened

6984-533: The military organization of the Lombards and Franks was the free association between the local military leader and the warrior caste - hence the Germanic origin of the title of Baron . As feudalism developed the old Byzantine, Lombard, and Frankish structures were worked into a hierarchy, and the old military and administrative offices became hereditary titles with fiefs attached. By the year 900, Frankish power in Italy had dissipated. The Popes assumed direct control in

7081-611: The next notable family member was Franchino I Rusca , who established a personal lordship over Como and its territories and became an imperial vicar . In 1335, a new war between Como and Milan broke out due to the expiration of conditions established in Lomazzo. This time, under the leadership of Azzone Visconti , Milan won the war and Como was annexed to the Duchy of Milan . The people of Como sought to regain their administrative freedom, and an opportunity arose in 1402 when Gian Galeazzo Visconti , Duke of Milan, died. Franchino II Rusca led

7178-671: The order. Their members enjoy several heraldic privileges in addition to the right to use the Comital title. This tradition can be traced back to the Reconquista , in which the Order played an important role. According to heraldic expert Lord Manuel de Mata, the Spanish Members of the Order are allowed to use both the full title of Count of the Sacred Palace of the Lateran as well as just the title of Count before their names. The rights were recorded in

7275-435: The privileges enjoyed by the holders pertain to styles of address and heraldry. Additionally, the Pope grants personal and familial titles that carry no territorial designation. Their titles being merely honorific, the modern papal nobility includes descendants of ancient Roman families as well as notable Catholics from many countries. All pontifical noble titles are within the personal gift of the pontiff, and are not recorded in

7372-686: The public gardens with the Tempio Voltiano ; the Teatro Sociale; the Broletto or the city's medieval town hall; and the 20th-century Casa del Fascio . Como was the birthplace of many historical figures, including the poet Caecilius mentioned by Catullus in the first century BCE, writers Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger , Pope Innocent XI , scientist Alessandro Volta , and Cosima Liszt , second wife of Richard Wagner and long-term director of

7469-562: The rebel communes in Lombardy . The Emperor restored Como's former freedom, which was lost in a ten-year-long war against Milan. Together, the Ghibelline communes and the emperor defeated Milan . These pivotal moments for the town are celebrated by the medieval festival, where actors portray the main characters: Frederick Barbarossa , Henry the Lion , Beatrice of Burgundy , and Bishop Ardizzone , while citizens dress up in medieval attire. During

7566-548: The recognition of papal titles that was incorporated into the Italian Constitution was still valid and therefore that their use in Italy was still licit. No provision, however, has been made for their use in Italian passports , identity cards or civil state registries. Few Pontifical titles, other than personal nobility obtained by individual appointment into the several Pontifical equestrian orders , have been granted since

7663-458: The reconstruction of Queen Theudelind's road , which connected Germany and the Italian Peninsula , providing the town with strategic access to commerce . In 774, Como surrendered to the invading Franks led by Charlemagne and subsequently became a center of commercial exchange. The Commune of Como likely originated in the 11th century as an "association of prestigious families on

7760-994: The so-called " fall of the Western Roman Empire ", the history of Como followed that of the rest of Lombardy , being occupied by the Goths , the Byzantines , and later the Langobards . The Langobards were a significant people in the region. Originating in Scandinavia , this Germanic group arrived in the Po Valley in 568, led by King Alboin . The Langobards established the Lombard Kingdom , which initially encompassed only modern-day Northern Italy , but later expanded to include Tuscany , Umbria , and portions of Southern Italy . Under Lombard rule, Como continued to flourish, particularly due to

7857-521: The sovereignty of the bishop of Como. The bishop soon became the de facto " head of state ", while an assembly of citizens convened in the "Broletto" (Town Hall), called "Brolo". This assembly consisted of representatives of the local nobility, known as consuls, and later included representatives of the guilds . The Commune had a set of laws and conventions that regulated urban activities, commerce , agriculture , fishing , hunting , law enforcement , and taxation . The first explicit written mention of

7954-629: The sovereignty of the Holy See and confirmed the pope's power to grant noble titles. It also recognized the titles granted by the Pope until that date and all future titles as equivalent to the noble titles of the Kingdom of Italy. This rule remained in force until the 1946 abolition of the Italian monarchy . In 1969 the Italian Council of State determined that the provision of the Lateran Treaty concerning

8051-568: The submission of the lords of the cities of Emilia-Romagna , Le Marche and Umbria . The Medici of Florence and other noble families set their sights on the papacy as a means of aggrandizing themselves and establishing dynastic goals through marriage, diplomacy and ennoblement. Cesare Borgia notably ousted many of the lords of Le Marche and established himself as the Duke of Romagna before being overthrown by his father's successor Julius II . Julius managed to marry his nephew, Giovanni Della Rovere , to

8148-463: The title of Prince , their counties and marquisates were elevated to duchies, and the Medici were even made Grand Dukes of Tuscany by Pius V . Likewise, papal orders of knighthood and personal titles, sometimes attached to positions of honor in the papal household , came into greater use. The Napoleonic occupation of Rome led to the temporary abolition of noble titles. Upon restitution of sovereignty to

8245-602: The title of prince of Monteleone (in Calabria ) from the Piatti family in 1749. Antonio Maria Erba-Odescalchi, Pope Innocent's great-grandnephew and Cardinal Benedetto Erba-Odescalchi's nephew, was a Doctor in Civil and Canon Law (Milan 1733), which allowed him to pursue a career in the Papal Court in Rome as a church lawyer. He became a Protonotary Apostolic in 1737 and a Referendary (Judge) of

8342-676: The titles of prince , duke , marquis , count , viscount , baron and knight . At times, certain rulers paid a type of feudal homage to the papacy (Poland, 991; England, 1213). Inversely, the Pope claimed the authority to create and anoint rulers ( Holy Roman Empire , 800, 962, etc.; Sicily , 1059; Kingdom of Aragon , 1204; Latin Empire of Constantinople, 1217; Sicily, 1265), to depose them (Holy Roman Empire, 1076, 1245; Portugal , 1247), to elevate them ( Croatia , 925; Hungary , 1001; Sicily, 1130; Portugal, 1179; Tuscany , 1569), and to decide disputes between them ( Corsica , 1217; Treaty of Tordesillas , 1493). The Pope also had strong claims to

8439-405: The town hall ( Palazzo Cernezzi ). The Servizio Ferroviario Regionale (Regional Railway Service) connects Como by train to other major cities in Lombardy. Services are provided by Trenord through two main stations: Como San Giovanni and Como Nord Lago . There are five more urban stations ( Albate-Camerlata , Albate-Trecallo, Como Borghi, Como Camerlata and Grandate-Breccia). Como San Giovanni

8536-570: The town to besiege his castle under the leadership of consul Adamo del Pero . Landolfo was captured and imprisoned, igniting a crisis between Como and Milan, as Milanese soldiers had defended Landolfo's castle. This conflict led to the Decennial War between Como and Milan in 1118. The war is well-documented thanks to an anonymous poet who recorded the events in a poem titled "Liber Cumanus, sive de bello Mediolanensium adversus Comenses". Initially, Como seemed to prevail due to smart tactics, but after

8633-523: The town, with their principal rivals being the members of the Vitani family . In 1182, Giovanni Rusca became a consul of the commune and was later appointed podestà of Milan in 1199, thanks to his abilities during a peace treaty with the rival city. Between 1194 and 1198, he was joined by two other relatives, Adamo and Loterio, who also became consuls of Como. The Rusca quickly became the most influential family in Como, with several members attempting to establish

8730-501: The tribe of the Insubres . Around the first century BC, the territory became subject to the Romans . The town centre was situated on the nearby hills, but it was then moved to its current location by order of Julius Caesar , who had the swamp near the southern tip of the lake drained and laid the plan of the walled city in the typical Roman grid of perpendicular streets. The newly founded town

8827-421: The turn of the 21st century, reaching a record high of 21 degrees Celsius (70 °F) on 27 January 2024; spring and autumn are well marked and pleasant, while summer can be quite hot and sultry. Wind is uncommon although sudden bursts of foehn have been registered in different occasions. Pollution levels rise significantly in winter when cold air clings to the soil . Rain is more frequent during spring; summer

8924-564: The wood-covered hills to the southwest of town, around the area of the modern town's district of Rebbio. In the areas of the districts of Breccia, Prestino and the neighbouring towns of San Fermo della Battaglia and Cavallasca there were also settlements of the Golasecca Culture , built in the Iron Age. Later, a second Celtic migration brought the Gaulish peoples in the area of Como, especially

9021-461: The year 1619 when the historian Francesco Ballarini wrote that the people of Como at the time were already using the motto in the town's coat of arms. It is thought that this motto emerged when the town of Como was liberated from the Milanese occupation with the help of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick I Barbarossa . The motto was later censored when the town was conquered by the Visconti family in

9118-460: Was a papal marquis , and Argentine Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena was a papal marchioness. During the 1920s, Genevieve and Nicholas Frederic Brady of New York were granted papal dukedoms . Pontifical noble titles, like marquis Silva de Balboa, also as count of Urquijo. All pontifical noble titles are within the personal gift of the pontiff, and they are not recorded in the Official Acts of

9215-621: Was drawn up and entered into the Golden Book of the Capitoline nobility (established by the Urbem Romam constitution of Benedict XIV of 1746). Both the civic nobles and the papal aristocracy thus obtained the title of Patrician . After the Kingdom of Italy annexed the Papal States and captured Rome in 1870, the new kingdom recognized the existing nobility in its new territory. The pope remained

9312-468: Was named Novum Comum and had the status of municipium . In September 2018, Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli announced the discovery of several hundred gold coins in the basement of the former Cressoni Theater (Teatro Cressoni) in a two-handled soapstone amphora , coins struck by emperors Honorius , Valentinian III , Leo I the Thracian , Antonio and Libius Severus dating to 474 AD. After

9409-494: Was traditionally based on industry; in particular, the city was world-famous for its silk manufacturers, and in 1972 its production exceeded that of China and Japan, but since the mid-1990s increasing competition from Asia has significantly reduced profit margins and many small and mid-sized firms have gone out of business. As a consequence, manufacturing is no longer the economic driver, and the city has been absorbed into Milan's metropolitan area where it mainly provides workers to

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