The Province of Como, Italy, has issued a tender notice to hand over Comacina Island, the only island on Lake Como, to a private entity for management and comprehensive renovation and upgrading, for a term of 25 years, while ownership of the island remains public. At the end of the contract, operating rights, together with all newly added and renovated facilities, will be returned to the local government.
Comacina Island is located northeast of the city of Como, across the lake from the town of Tremezzina. During the Roman Empire, especially in the early Middle Ages, the island had important political, military and religious facilities. To this day, the island still retains a wealth of cultural and historical heritage, including a medieval church, the Church of San Giovanni, the Ossuccio Antiquities Museum, and an archaeological park, where a large number of military, religious and settlement ruins and artifacts have been unearthed.
The project requires a total investment of €87.8 million, with funds to be used to restore the island's medieval church, archaeological park and ruins, while rebuilding the island's sewage network, water supply pipelines and underwater purification facilities.
The bidder's revenue will come from reopening and operating the island's long-established restaurant and La Botte bar, while also taking on tourism reception-related business, including ticketing, guided tours and managing visitor flows.
The municipality of Tremezzina, together with the Comacina Island Foundation, disclosed the plan, with the goal of completing infrastructure and renovation works within 2027 and officially reopening the restaurant and bar.
A number of local and international candidates have already entered the bidding, including Giovanni Costantino, co-owner of Sunlake Catering, a leading Lake Como local cultural tourism, dining and event services company, and CEO of Blunotte Eventi; Vincenzo Dascanio, a master of high-end event art planning in Milan; and QC, a leading Italian hot spring wellness group; Russian entrepreneur Mikhail Kusnirovich (founder of luxury retailer Bosco di Ciliegi and owner of GUM department store on Moscow's Red Square) is also among the contenders.
｜Source: Pambianco News, Isola Comacina official website
｜Image source: Isola Comacina official website
｜Editor: LuxeCO
