Why a Lanky Octagon Resides in the Como Hills: A Lighthouse for Alessandro Volta

Alessandro Volta, the physicist who brought electricity to life with his batteries, passed away in 1827, but it wasn't until 1927 that a monument was erected to honor him. This wasn't your typical electrical contraption, though. No sir, it was 28 meters tall, Octagonal, and the work of the clever cobbler, Gabriele Giussani. While Volta sparked those devices to life, it's Giussani's design that keeps 'em burnin' bright. You can find this oddly placed memorial up in the hills above Como, Italy.

A plaque beneath the balcony, the viewing platform at the top of the tower, speaks of the man with the batteries who survived a fiery lab explosion. This lighthouse, bearing his name, is more than a tribute to a scientist; it's a nod to the town that birthed and welcomed him back. Como itself, a lively town on the shore of the lake, is where Volta hailed from. Today, this place where he returned leaves a light to carry his name, a light that still gleams.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons