COMO, Comum, prov. Del regno Lombardo-Veneto che ha al Nord la Svizzera, al Nord-Est la Valtellina, all’Est la prov. Di Bergamo, al Sud quella di Milano, ed all’Ovest gli Stati sardi, da’ quali la divide il lago Maggiore. Assai irregolare è la sua forma, avendo 23 leghe di lunghezza dal Sud al Nord, e variando dalle 3 leghe e mezzo fino alle 14 in larghezza, dall’Est all’Ovest. Abbraccia la suerficie di 160 leghe, con 345,100 abitanti. Le Alpi Lepontine e le Rezie, i deliziosi poggi della Brianza, e del Varesotto offrono scene svariate, e formano belle vallate, come sono la ValSassina, la Val-Intelvi e la Val-Assina, dalla quale ultima proviene il fiume Lambro. L’Olona deriva dalla Val-Sessia, poco lunge da Varese.

Il suo fiume principale è l’Adda, che scendendo dal Braulio, gettasi nel lago di Como, da cui esce inferiormente a Lecco, e, per via di navigli artificiali, congiunge questa provincia al Milanese. Nella sua parte orientale evvi il lago di Como, al Sud-Ovest quello di Varese, ed al Sud-Est i piccoli laghi di Alserio, Montorfano, Pusiano, Sala, Annone, i quali

Province of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Veneto with Switzerland to the north, the Valtellina to the north-east, the province of Bergamo to the south and the Sardinian states to the west which divide Como from Lake Maggiore. Irregular in form, running 23 leagues from south to north, varying from 3 to 14 leagues in width. It has an area of 160 leagues with 345,100 inhabitants. The Lepotine Alps, the Rezie, and the delightful peaks of the Brianza and Varesotto offer spectacular views, forming the beautiful valleys of the the Valsassina and Val Intelvi with its river Lambro.

The Olona flows through the Val Sassina, not far from Varese, where the main river is the Adda descending from Braulio to empty its waters into Lake Como and later at Lecco where, by means of a series of artificial canals,it joins this province to that of Milan.To the west is Lake Como.to the south-west is Lake Varese and to the south-east, the small lakes of Alserio, Montorfano, Pusiano, Sala and Annone which at one time were united into Lake Eupili. Rich vegetation renders the climate excellent, but there may be sudden winds from the wide gorges. In winter, hills and river banks are covered with artechokes and citrus fruits.

From the 12th Century, the banks of the river Lario were full of olive groves and in the XIIIth Century a tenth of the crop was offered as it was so abundant along with wheat, corn, good- quality vines, many mulberry trees and all kinds of fruit as well as linen and fields of hemp. The mountains produce many medicinal herbs and colours, whilst all sorts of plants grow in the woods, especially the chestnut trees which offer food to the mountain people in winter. Numerous herds of cows and sheep pasture on the mountan slopes, whilst in the valleys silk worms are at work to produce their famous thread.