Fiction
A Month By the Lake And Other Stories, H.E. Bates, 1987
This collection of short stories features A Month By the Lake, which is about a spinster who comes to Lake Como after her father’s death and finds love.
The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain 1869
This travel narrative, based on Twain’s journey with a group of Americans through Europe and the Holy Land, sheds light on the conflicts between the old and new worlds.
The Betrothed, Alessandro Manzoni 1827
The most widely read work in the Italian language, Alessandro Manzoni’s The Betrothed is a saga about two lovers, Renzo and Lucia, as they flee from the oppressive rule in their small Lake Como village.
Nonfiction
The Italian Summer: Golf, Food, and Family at Lake Como, Roland Merullo, 2011
Author and golfer Roland Merullo details his summer with his family in Lake Como and the characters and adventures that they encounter.
Films
Casino Royale, Martin Cambell, 2006
Daniel Craig stars as British spy James Bond who becomes embroiled in a high-stakes poker game to beat a terrorist financier across international borders.
Ocean’s Twelve, Steven Soderbergh, 2004
Partially filmed at George Clooney’s Lake Como villa, this sequel to 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven follows Danny Ocean and his sidekicks after they rob a casino.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, George Lucas, 2002
In the fifth film of the Star Wars series, a civil war breaks out when an assassination attempt is made on Senator Amidala.
A Month by the Lake, John Irvin, 1995
In the early 20th century, a young unmarried woman travels to Lake Como for the summer, where she meets a handsome bachelor. The sudden arrival of a beautiful American girl threatens their romance.
The Pleasure Garden, Alfred Hitchcock, 1925
Alfred Hitchcock’s first film as a director, The Pleasure Garden follows two chorus girls and their complicated romantic relationships.
