Lake Como

GENERAL AND TRAVEL
INFORMATION
21st ISFC&ISoFT’15
COMO, ITALY 23-28 AUGUST 2015
LOMBARDY REGION (ITALY)
COMO
BERGAMO
ORIO AL SERIO
MILANO
MALPENSA
MILANO
LINATE
Airports (MPX | LIN | BGY)
21st ISFC&ISoFT’15 Venue | Via Valleggio 11, COMO
EXPO Milano 2015 Site | Via Carlo Pisacane, PERO (MILANO)
LAKE COMO
Welcome to Lake Como one of the most beautiful areas in Lombardy.
This pre-alpine lake surrounded by a crown of mountains with peaks up to 2700
m high, is not only spectacular but rich in history and tradition.
Splendid 17th century villas with their lovely gardens, antique Romanesque
churches, old connection trails and mountain tops with a superb view of the lake.
Lake Como is situated 45 km north of Milan, close to the Swiss border. It is 46 km
long and has the form of an upside down Y dividing itself into two branches at
the town Bellagio with the town Como at the tip of the southwestern branch
and the town Lecco at the tip of the southeastern branch.
Its crystal clear waters are up to 400 deep, making it one of the deepest lakes in
Europe. By boat you can enjoy the view of the shores dotted with small towns
of rare beauty, by bus or car you can discover the valleys with their rural
settlements and small churches and on foot or by mountain bike you explore the
many trails around the lake.
CITY OF COMO
The city of Como, lying at the foot of the homonymous lake, offers a discreet
and elegant charm with events, exhibitions, concerts, and shows organized all
the year round. Its historic centre is enclosed by imposing Medieval walls and
presents excellent historic sites like the fine cathedral and the Broletto,
atmospheric corners like the picturesque piazza San Fedele, and austere civic
buildings like the sober Porta Torre, once the main entrance to the city.
Como has been the hometown of illustrious figures, among others the roman
philosophers, the physicist Alessandro Volta (1745 – 1827), and in the
contemporary era the architect Giuseppe Terragni (1904-1943). The historic
centre is also a pedestrian area with numerous and elegant stores.
Boats and hydrofoils leave from the large and modern Piazza Cavour giving the
opportunity for pleasant trips around the Lake Como which is situated in the
heart of the Lombardian foot Alps and borders in the west with Switzerland.
Seeing ‘the lake from the lake’ is definitely the best way to fully appreciate the
beauty of the landscape, while the characteristic funicular takes you to the
panoramic spot of Brunate, a natural balcony overlooking the lake almost 800
metres above sea level.
WEATHER
The Lake Como landscape has luxuriant vegetation and a wide range of plants
and flowers that normally grow in regions that are much further south and even
sub-tropic. This rich, varied flora is a result of the favourable weather conditions
on Lake Como.
Lake Como has breezes that blow from north to south in the early morning and
from South to North from the afternoon to late evening. These help mitigate the
summer climate and promote a constant change in the air, which keeps the
atmosphere clear and free from fog and mist.
Thanks to all these elements, Lake Como has a stable and mild climate.
August in Como is still the peak of summer with temperatures remaining in the
high 20°C and rarely dropping below 13°C overnight.
The water in Lake Como exceeds 20°C in July, August and September, making
those months the prime time for swimming.
ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE
The electrical voltage in Italy is 220 V, 50 cycle ac. Electricity in Italy conforms to
the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. Wall outlets
typically accommodate plugs with two or three round pins.
The following plugs are used:
EMERGENCY & IMPORTANT NUMBERS
From outside Italy, dial your international access code, Italy's country code (39)
then the number (including the '0').
Italy’s country code: 39
International access code: 00
Emergency Number: 112
TRAVEL INFORMATION
GETTING TO COMO BY PLANE
FROM MALPENSA AIRPORT TO COMO
By public transport:
From Malpensa airport terminal 1 you take the Malpensa express to
Saronno. At Saronno station you change and take the train to Como Lago.
For the train times you can consult the Trenord timetable
(http://www.trenord.it/EN/).
By car:
The distance from Malpensa airport to Como is 58 km. You follow the
indications for the motorway A8 direction Milano and then you take the
A9 Como - Chiasso. Take the exit Como Sud or Como Monteolimpino if
you wish to go to the center of town.
Malpensa Airport: http://www1.seamilano.eu/landing/index_en.html
FROM LINATE AIRPORT TO COMO
By public transport:
Take shuttle bus Linate Airport - Milan Central Station every 20 minutes
(http://www.atm-mi.it/en/AltriServizi/Trasporto/Pages/airbus.aspx),
travel time approx. 20 min. From Milan Central Station you can take a train
to Como San Giovanni station (travel time approx. 40 min.). For the
timetable
consult
the
Trenitalia
website
(http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en).
By car:
The distance from Linate airport to Como is 74 km. Follow the indications
for the motorway Laghi and then pick up the A9 Como - Chiasso. Take the
exit Como Sud or Como Monteolimpino if you wish to go to the center of
town.
Linate Airport: http://www1.seamilano.eu/landing/index_en.html
FROM BERGAMO AIRPORT ORIO AL SERIO TO COMO
By public transport:
Take shuttle bus service from Airport Orio al Serio to Milano Central station
(http://www.orioshuttle.com/_eng/). From Milano Central station by
train to Como San Giovanni station.
By car:
The distance from the aiport Bergamo Orio al Serio to Como is aprox. 90
km. Take the motorway A4 direction Milano. From Milano follow the A9
Laghi in direction Como – Chiasso. Take the exit Como Sud or Como
Monteolimpino if you wish to go to the center of town.
Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport: http://www.sacbo.it
PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN COMO > Bus time table: http://www.asfautolinee.it/en
GETTING TO COMO BY TRAIN
By Trenitalia:
from Milan Central station or from Milan Garibaldi station train line MilanoComo-Chiasso to Como San Giovanni station. Travel time from 30 minutes
to one hour. (http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en).
By TRENord:
from Milano Cadorna station connection to Como Lago or Como Borghi
station. Travel time one hour. (http://www.trenord.it/EN/).
By SBB:
from Zurich and Lugano train line Lugano-Chiasso-Como to Como San
Giovanni
station.
Travel
time
from
Lugano
1
hour.
(http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html)
GETTING TO COMO BY CAR
Lake Como can be easily reached by car from the main towns in Lombardy and
from the neighbouring Switzerland.
In order to reach the town Como from Milan follow the indications for Como /
Varese / Autostrada dei Laghi and then take the A9 Lainate – Como - Chiasso. In
order to reach the town Como (40 km from Milan) we advise the exits: Como
Sud or Monte Olimpino.
GETTING TO SYMPOSIUM VENUE
POLITECNICO DI MILANO;
COMO CAMPUS (POLO TERRITORIALE DI COMO)
Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como
By Train:
from Como S. Giovanni (Trenitalia) to via Valleggio: You can reach the
venue by bus. The more convenient is the bus n. 7
(http://www.asfautolinee.it/en/) which starts from Via Gallio every 20
minutes': outside the station go down the stairs and, once crossed the
road in front, you are in Via Gallio. The building is located at the second
stop of Via Castelnuovo after the overpass of the railway "Ferrovie Nord".
from Como Borghi (TRENord) to via Valleggio: it is just a short walk to the
facilities in the venue. Exit the station and turn left into Via Aldo Moro then
walk as far as the junction with Via Castelnuovo. Turn left again and you
will find the venue on the left.
By Car:
the suggested exit of motorway is “Como Centro" (A9). Around the
buildings of Vallegio, there are many parking areas.
Como Area Transports
Bus: Urbane e extraurban routes (to reach Bellagio and Lecco): www.sptlinea.it
Trains: Milano Cadorna-Bovisa-Saronno (Malpensa Airport): www.trenord.it
Milano Centrale-Monza-Chiasso (CH)-Lugano (CH): www.trenitalia.com
Ferries: www.navigazionelaghi.it
Cableway: www.funicolarecomo.it
Taxi: Taxi Como: 800 012380 or RadioTaxi Lario 2000: 031272000 or RadioTaxi
Como: 031261515
Via per Cernobbio, 41a