Magistri Comacini

Dionysian Artificers, the Roman Collegia, the Magistri Comacini of Como and the Compagnonnage. 

The Magistri Comacini was in existence at least as early as 643CE when given privileges by the King of Lombard." Legend suggests that they lived on a fortified island in Lake Como that is now a ruin. As Lake Como today has only one island and it is a swampy mudflat, the island may now be part of the shoreline. 

It is most likely that Sir Christopher Wren referred to the Magistri Comacini when he remarked ... 

The Papal Bulls alluded to by Wren are unknown and quite probably just part of the extensive folklore of the Magistri Comacini. They were active in Ravenna and Venice, although these cities show little evidence of the Romantic style. Ravenna is primarily Byzantine and Venice is Arabic without a single Romantic building. 

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