Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COMO SILK
Incorporating both the production and processing of silk, Como manufacturers, especially those around
Lecco, produced some of the world's finest, most durable silks. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Como
was the third largest silk producing sector in the world (not far behind China and Japan) and silk consti-
tuted Italy's most important national export. So valuable was the trade that the export of silk represen-
ted a third of the value of all Italian exports.
Even after the devastating prebina epidemic of 1855 - which all but wiped out the Italian moth spe-
cies necessitating the import of raw silk from the Far East - the Como weaving industry retained a sig-
nificant world presence. It was only in the early 20th century, following the economic crash of 1929
and the advent of new synthetic fabrics, that the industry fell into terminal decline.
Today, raw silk is imported from China and only the finishing, dyeing and printing work is carried
out in Como. Out of literally hundreds of silk houses only three big firms remain:
Seteria Ratti
(
www.ratti.it
)
,
Mantero
(
www.mantero.com
)
and
Canepa
(
www.canepa.it
) . They still employ nearly
one third of the Como population while Como's Istituto Tecnico Industriale di Setificio, founded in
1869, continues to turn out world-class designers, printers and chemical-dyeing experts.
Duomo
(Piazza del Duomo; 8am-noon & 3-7pm)
Although largely Gothic, elements of Romanesque,
Renaissance and baroque styles can also be seen in Como's imposing, marble-clad
duomo
.
The cathedral was built between the 14th and 18th centuries, and is crowned by a high oc-
tagonal dome.
Next door, the polychromatic Broletto, or medieval town hall, is unusual in that it butts
right up against the church and is rather overwhelmed by it.
CATHEDRAL
BASILICA
Basilica di Sant'Abbondio
(Via Regina; 8am-6pm Apr-Sep, to 4pm Oct-Mar)
About 500m south of the city walls and just
beyond the busy and rather ugly Viale Innocenzo XI is the remarkable 11th-century
Romanesque Basilica di Sant'Abbondio. Aside from its proud, high structure and impress-
ive apse decorated with a beautiful geometric relief around the outside windows, the high-
light is the remarkable fresco series inside the apse depicting scenes from the life of Christ.
Basilica di San Fedele
(Piazza San Fedele; 8am-noon & 3.30-7pm)
The circular layout of the originally 6th-century
Basilica di San Fedele, with three naves and three apses, has been likened to a clover leaf.
BASILICA
