Pinacoteca Civica di Palazzo Volpi, Como


The Pinacoteca Civica di Palazzo Volpi is the town art gallery on Via Diaz 84 in the town of Como, Lombardy, Italy. It is housed in the 17th-century Palazzo Volpi.

History

The palace was erected from 1610 to 1630 by the Catholic nuncio and bishop of Novara, Ulpiano Volpi. He commissioned the sober Renaissance-style design from the architect Sergio Venturi. The building in the 20th century served as a courthouse until the 1970s.
Presently it is a civic art gallery. It houses collections whose core pre-19th-century works come from suppressed ecclesiastic institutions. For example, it houses Carolingian sculptures from the church of Sant'Abbondio as well as Romanesque and Gothic sculptures and frescoes. It contains a display of Paolo Giovio's portraits of illustrious men. It houses items from the Como Cathedral, including stained glass windows, sculptures, tapestries and wooden models. Among the paintings are: