COMO (anc. Comum), a city and episcopal see of Lombardy, Italy, capital of the province of Como, at the south end of the west branch of the Lake of Como, 32m. by rail N. by W. of Milan. Pop. (1931) 42,867 (town) ; 54,138 (commune). Moun tains enclose the city in its valley and give fine lake-views. The old town, with rectangular Roman plan, is enclosed by walls with I2th century towers. The marble cathedral on the site of an earlier church has a nave of 1396, the facade belongs to 1457-86, while the exterior of the east end was altered into the Renaissance style, and richly decorated with sculptures by Tommaso Rodari in 1487-1526. The dome is an unsuitable addition of 1730-70 by the Sicilian architect, Filippo Juvara. In the same line as the fa cade of the cathedral are the Broletto (in black and white marble), dating from 1215, the seat of the original rulers of the commune, and the massive clock-tower. The Romanesque church of S. Abbondio outside the town (I I th century) has two fine campanili at the ends of the aisles close to the apse. The churches of S. Giacomo (1095-1117) and S. Fedele (12th century) are also Romanesque. Como is a tourist resort, and the steamboat traffic on the lake is largely for travellers. The hill station of Brunate (2,3 5of t.) above the town to the east is reached by a funicular railway. The Milanese possess many villas here. Como is an industrial town, having large silk factories and other industries. (See LOMBARDY.) It is connected with Milan by two lines of railway, one via Monza the other via Saronno, and also with Lecco and Varese.
Of the Roman Comum little remains above ground ; the south east gate, flanked by two octagonal towers, was found in 1914, and a portion of the south-east wall may be seen : later fortifica tions, largely constructed with Roman fragments, had been super imposed on it. Thermae have also been discovered. Comum be longed to Gallia Cisalpina; in 196 B.C. M. Claudius Marcellus conquered the Insubres and the Comenses. In 89 B.C., having suffered damage from the Raetians, it was restored by Cn. Pom peius Strabo, and given Latin rights with the rest of Gallia Trans padana; 5,0oo colonists were sent by Caesar in 59 B.C., and the place received the name Novum Comum. The place had an im portant iron industry ; and the banks of the lake were, as now, dotted with villas. It was also the starting-point for the journey across the lake in connection with the Splugen and Julier passes. (See CHIAVENNA.) The elder and younger Pliny were born here, the latter founded baths and a library and gave money for the support of orphan children. There was a prae f ectus classis Comensis (a commander of the Como flotilla) under the late empire, and it was regarded as a strong fortress.
During the early barbarian invasions many inhabitants took refuge on the Isola Comacina off Sala, but Como recovered in Lombard times. It became subject to the archbishops of Milan, but gained its freedom towards the end of the I 1 th century. In III 8 war broke out with Milan; Como was taken and its forti fications dismantled in 1127. From 1 154 it gave its allegiance to Barbarossa throughout the war of the Lombard League. After frequent struggles with Milan, it fell under the Visconti in Thenceforth it shared the fortunes of Milan, becoming in the Napoleonic period the chief town of the department of the Lario. It bore a considerable part in the national risings of 1848 59 against Austrian rule. Pope Innocent XI. and Alessandro Volta were born here.