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During
the middle of the 18th century, Villa Menafoglio, today known as Villa Litta-Panza, was constructed on the hills of Biumo (Varese). The
baroque villa, built in a U shape, in opposition  to the traditional concept of positioning the court to face
public spaces, is positioned inside and reveals a clear sense of intimacy on the part of the
constructor,
the Marquess Paolo Antonio Menafoglio. Previously was residence of the Viscounts Litta of Arese, now the
owner is the Panza family. The villa houses one of the most important private collections of contemporary art
in the world, and certainly the most important in Italy: Minimal-Art, Pop-Art, etc. The collection was
founded by Giuseppe Panza in the 1950s, with works of unknown artists, today known names. When his house in Milano
becomes to little for his collection, he moves a first part of the works to the
family's villa in Varese, the definitive seat of the Contemporary Art Gallery. Count Panza
bought ca. 2500 works, and already a third part was presented as gift to museums of all the world.
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