Voltian places

The Tempio Voltiano in Como, built in 1927, celebrates Alessandro Volta with scientific instruments, biographical panels, and symbols of Science and Faith; here, Einstein paid tribute to the scientist in 1933.

The Como breakwater and Daniel Libeskind’s monument The Life Electric combine history and modernity on the lakefront, celebrating Alessandro Volta and energy as a bridge between the past and the future.

Piazza Alessandro Volta in Como celebrates the scientist with a neoclassical monument dating back to 1838. Renovated in 1999, it was equipped with new lighting in 2022.

Under the portico of Piazza Cavour in Como, four bronze bas-reliefs celebrate Pliny, Paolo Giovio, Pope Innocent XI, and Alessandro Volta, the work of sculptor Felice Mina.

The Alessandro Volta High School in Como, housed in the former monastery of Santa Cecilia, preserves a statue of the scientist and a science museum linked to his teaching activities and his friends.

The birthplace of Alessandro Volta in Como, on the street named after him, was the place of his birth and death. A neoclassical building, it preserves family memories and symbols of the city’s history.

The Gattoni Tower in Como combines history and science: it housed the city’s first electrical substation and was the site of experiments conducted by Volta and Gattoni on electricity and lightning rods.

The church of San Donnino in Como was the place where Alessandro Volta was baptized and buried; here he taught catechism, demonstrating a profound spirituality alongside his scientific life.

In the center of Como, the church of San Provino, one of the oldest in the city, was the site of Alessandro Volta’s wedding in 1794, reflecting his reserved nature and profound spirituality.

Piazza San Fedele, Como’s ancient Roman forum, is home to the basilica of the same name where Volta was honored after his death, amid Roman ruins, civic memory, and the religious history of the city.

The Cathedral of Como, dominated by statues of Pliny, preserves Roman inscriptions and a plaque commemorating the devotion of Alessandro Volta, combining classical history, faith, and civic memory.

On the facades of the former Banca Commerciale Italiana in Como, medallions celebrate illustrious figures from Como throughout history, with a special tribute to Alessandro Volta commissioned by Federico Frigerio.

The Teatro Sociale in Como was founded in 1809 by the council chaired by Volta. Opened in 1813, it still has its historic curtain depicting the death of Pliny the Elder.

In front of the Giosuè Carducci Institute in Como in 1927, the famous photo was taken of the Nobel laureates gathered for Volta: Marconi, Planck, Bohr, Fermi, and other scientists.

Villa Olmo, a neoclassical masterpiece in Como, stands on a site of ancient Roman origin and was the venue for the Volta celebrations in 1927, housing busts linked to Volta and Giovio.

Villa del Grumello, a historic residence on Lake Como mentioned by Paolo Giovio, was the home of the Giovio family and hosted Volta and Foscolo. Today it is a cultural center with a park and botanical garden.

Camnago Volta, a village linked to the life and burial of the scientist, is home to the Passeggiata Voltiana, a green path along the former tram route, surrounded by nature and memories.

The neoclassical mausoleum of Alessandro Volta in Camnago Volta has housed his tomb since 1831: a small pantheon with allegorical statues celebrating Science and Religion.

Camnago Volta is home to the scientist’s favorite country villa, where, according to tradition, he developed the first battery in 1799, surrounded by a park, a mill, and childhood memories.

The Bassone Oasis, just outside Como, is home to Cascina Volta, linked to the scientist’s family and his early observations of nature among woods, lakes, and trails.

In Brunate, two houses are linked to Alessandro Volta’s childhood: plaques and local traditions recount the period when he was raised by the Pedraglio family, although there is no certainty as to which house it was.

In 2000, the former Albergo Volta in Brunate became a municipal library, surrounded by Parco Volta: a cultural venue that combines Volta’s memory, poetry, and the history of the town.

The Marenghi Park in Brunate, at the foot of the Voltiano Lighthouse, is a scenic green area linked to Alessandro Volta and the discovery of the Fonte del Pertugio spring during a scientific excursion.

The Voltiano Lighthouse in Brunate, built in 1927 in memory of Volta, shines up to 40 km. The colors of the lights symbolize the scientist’s faith, science, and charity.

A multimedia and interactive space in the heart of Como, VIS Comensis tells the story of four great figures from Como’s history – Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, Paolo Giovio and Alessandro Volta – through immersive installations, images and narratives that combine humanistic and scientific knowledge. In 2027, it will host an exhibition dedicated to Volta on the bicentenary of his death.