How long is the tour?

The guided experience lasts approximately two hours and combines short walks with time inside the archive and at the Monumento ai Caduti.

Meeting point is Como, Viale Giuseppe Sinigaglia 1 — arrive a few minutes early so the group can start on time.

The tour is led by architect Attilio Terragni, who provides firsthand commentary on the Novocomum and the Terragni Archive.

Is the archive accessible to everyone?

Archive access may be limited; contact the operator ahead of time to discuss mobility needs or special accommodations.

Can I take photos inside the archive?

Photography policies vary for archival materials—ask the guide on arrival and expect restrictions to protect fragile documents.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, reserve your spot beforehand as places are limited and archive viewing is managed for preservation and capacity reasons.

Ritorno al Futuro: Inside Novocomum and the Archivio Terragni in Como | Private | Walking Tour

On a compact stretch of Como’s lakeside, a carefully timed reopening invites visitors inside one of the city’s most provocative modern landmarks. Ritorno al Futuro: riapre il Monumento ai Caduti di Como is a two‑hour, architect‑led visit that starts at Viale Giuseppe Sinigaglia 1 in Como and takes you through the Novocomum and the Archivio Terragni. Led by architect Attilio Terragni, the tour pairs measured architectural analysis with personal anecdotes and archival material, giving a rare, lived-in perspective on buildings that helped define Italian rationalism.

The itinerary centers on Novocomum, a compact modernist block whose crisp geometries and planar facades read differently at street level and from the lake. Inside the Terragni Archive, sketches, photographs, and original documents reveal design decisions that are often lost on passersby. The Monumento ai Caduti—recently reopened—anchors the route with civic memory, its form and placement prompting a conversation about public commemoration in a city framed by water and mountains.

What makes this experience special is the combination of place and person. Seeing drawings in the architect’s archive while an architect traces the lines and tells the backstory converts static forms into narratives. The tour is both forensic and affectionate: you’ll learn how proportion, window rhythm, and material choices affect light and shadow on façades, and why certain interventions were controversial when first built. This is local urban history delivered by someone who understands how buildings are made and how they age.

Practical details are simple: meet at Como, Viale Giuseppe Sinigaglia 1 for a two‑hour session that balances walking, seated archive viewing, and close-looking at exterior details. Bring a notepad and camera; access to archive materials may be limited to small groups. Wear comfortable shoes—some streets are cobbled—and be prepared for brief outdoor passages along the lakeshore.

This tour is ideal for architecture students, design professionals, and curious travelers who prefer slow, interpretive exploration over a rapid checklist. It’s a standout offering because it reopens a civic monument and embeds it in a wider story of mid‑century modernism specific to Como. In a city best known for its lake vistas, this experience redirects attention toward the built environment, revealing how ideas in stone and plaster shape the everyday city. Whether you arrive for the Monumento ai Caduti or the archive, the tour reframes Como as a place where modern architecture still has contemporary relevance.

Reserve in advance; groups are small to allow close access to archive materials and preserve fragile items. Expect a measured pace with frequent stops for discussion; bring a lightweight jacket for lakeside wind and travel documents. The tour offers a rare chance to connect civic memory with design practice, making Como’s modernist landmarks feel immediate and relevant to today’s visitors.