Isola Comacina

Isola Comacina is the only island on Lake Como, a small wooded islet lying just offshore from Sala Comacina and Ossuccio on the lake's western shore in Como Province, Lombardy. Despite its size, the island has an outsized history: a Roman and early-medieval stronghold, it was a refuge and power base until it was sacked and razed by Como in 1169, after which it was symbolically cursed and left largely abandoned. Today visitors come to walk among the atmospheric ruins — the foundations of early churches, including the remains of the basilica of Sant'Eufemia — set among olive trees and wildflowers, and to take in the views back across the water to the villa-lined shore. The island is also famous for the Locanda dell'Isola Comacina, a restaurant that has served the same theatrical, multi-course fixed menu since 1947, ending with a flaming ritual said to lift the medieval curse. A visit, reached by a short boat-taxi from Sala Comacina or by the lake ferries in season, typically takes one to two hours, longer with a leisurely lunch at the locanda. The island is quietest outside summer weekends; the restaurant requires booking and operates seasonally. Comfortable shoes help on the rough paths among the ruins, and there is little shade or shelter, so timing around the weather matters. The combination of romantic ruins, lake panoramas and a singular dining tradition makes Isola Comacina a memorable and uncrowded counterpoint to the busier lakeside villages. Boat schedules are limited, so checking return crossings before setting out is advisable.