The mild climate, especially compared to other mountain areas, also makes it possible to grow olives, grapes and other crops.
In the warm months, tourism brings income to local residents, too. I have personally noticed a lot more visitors in the last month than I did in the colder months of February and March. However, even though tourists make the lake a little busier, they are supporting businesses, restaurants and hotels.
The biggest challenge about living in Lake Como is the steep terrain. Many homes are built on hillsides, which can be really hard to reach by car or by foot. In the winter, snow and ice can make it even trickier-- potentially even dangerous.
Landslides and erosion can also be risky when living in the mountains. On the last hike I went on, my friend and I had to take a detour trail because part of the trail we were on had been demolished by a landslide.
Additionally, since some areas are remote, it can be difficult to quickly access schools, hospitals, and grocery stores.
Despite all the challenges of living in Lake Como, the people there have adapted in many creative ways! There are fancy slanted trains, called funicolari, that transport people up and down mountains on super steep railroad tracks. My friend and I took one last week to get up to a small town called Brunate from Como!
Public ferries travel across the lake, too. This makes it easier to get from one town to another without needing to drive around the lake’s edges. Homes are built with stone and other materials that can handle the mountain climate.
