Isola Comacina

Not far from the shore, across from the hamlets of Ossuccio and Sala Comacina, is Isola Comacina, the only island on Lake Como .

On the island are the remains of the large basilica "S. Eufemia" (10th century- devastated during the war in the 12th century) and the small white basilica strong> Church of S. Giovanni.

Isola Comacina was already inhabited by the Romans in the first centuries. When the barbarian invasion spread fear and terror everywhere, the island took in many refugees and thus became a center of belief and resistance. In the famous ten-year war, the island took a position against Como and allied itself with Milan. In 1169 everything that stood on the island was completely ruined.
In 1175, Emperor Rotbart (Barbarossa) forbids the rebuilding of fortresses, churches and houses.
Since then, the island has remained uninhabited because of a curse from Bishop Vidulfo, who was selling ended:

"The bells will never ring again, no one will put one stone on top of another, no one will be the host here under the penalty of an agonizing death" .

Excavations have brought valuable mosaics from the Roman era back to light.

Ask at the small kiosk at the landing stage for the brochure that tells the story of the Island tells.
The island is home to the famous restaurant La Locanda dell & rsquo; isola Comacina . In the restaurant on the island, people were already eating Sylvester Stallone , Konrad Adenauer , Kirk Douglas   and the family Camata . The restaurant is also famous because of the ceremony that is celebrated after every meal according to old custom to banish the curse that was pronounced on the island.

You can get to the island by ship from Menaggio, or with a small ferry from Sala Comacina.

Visits:
More information about the Island Comacina and the church Santa Maria Maddalena   can be found in Museo Antiquarium , there you can ; guided tours of Isola Comacina can be booked, duration approx. 1.30 a.m.