Como: Basilica di San Fedele - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta - Duomo di Como

Como occupies the southwestern tip of Lake Como in Lombardy, where the water narrows toward the Alpine foothills. The city grew from the Roman settlement of Novum Comum, founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC, and its compact centre still follows an old urban pattern of squares and lanes. Como Cathedral, begun in 1396 and completed in the 18th century, combines Gothic and Renaissance elements on Piazza Duomo. Silk manufacture has shaped the local economy for centuries and remains part of the city’s identity; the Museo della Seta documents that heritage. On the lakeside, the Tempio Voltiano commemorates Como-born physicist Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Como and Lake Como.

Shaped by the Po Valley and the southern Alps, Lombardy developed into Italy’s leading economic region. Its territory runs from high Alpine valleys to the broad Po plain, where the Adda, Oglio and Ticino are major waterways. Milan is its metropolitan centre, marked by the Gothic Duomo and a long role in finance, design and publishing. Farther east, Bergamo is divided between its walled Città Alta and modern lower city; nearby Lake Iseo lies between Lombardy’s pre-Alpine ridges. Rice fields around Pavia, vineyards in Franciacorta and lake towns give the region a markedly varied identity. Browse other webcams across Lombardy to place this setting in a wider geographic context.

Among the countries of southern Europe, Italy stands out for its Mediterranean coastline and cities marked by the legacy of ancient Rome. The Alps form its northern frontier, while the Apennines run down the peninsula and the Po crosses the broad plain of the north. Rome’s Colosseum and Roman Forum recall the ancient empire; Florence is closely associated with the Renaissance, and Venice is built across a lagoon on the Adriatic. Food changes markedly between regions, from olive-oil cooking in the south to rice dishes in the Po Valley. Sicily and Sardinia add distinct island identities to a country whose regions retain strong local character. Explore nearby webcam locations that provide complementary perspectives on Italy’s coasts, cities and mountains.