Villa Menafoglio was built in the 18th century by Paolo Antonio Menafoglio, who purchased the land and turned it into a place of hospitality, developing Italian-style gardens around it with lawns, sculptures, and fountains.

Over the years, the villa changed ownership several times and today serves as a museum of modern art, with a focus on American artists favored by the villa’s last owner, Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo. The museum also preserves the villa’s original frescoes and stucco decorations.