Villa Panza was built in the mid 18th century when Marquis Paolo Antonio Menafoglio chose the summit of Colle Biumo in Varese as the ideal place for his country home. After enlargement work by Luigi Canonica in the early 19th century and by Piero Portaluppi in the 1930s, the residence changed function when Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo began to compile a 20th century art collection in the 1950s. Today Villa Panza contains over 150 art works by American artists inspired by themes of light and colour which coexist with historic rooms, Renaissance décor and precious African and Pre-Columbian art collections. The contemporary American art collection, now one of the best known in the world, illustrates Giuseppe Panza’s great artistic sensibility. In addition to the permanent collection, Villa Panza hosts exhibitions of international scope and has an over 33,000 square metre park.

Villa Panza has been owned by Fondo Ambiente Italiano since 1996. One of the FAI’s goals is to tear down any physical, sensory and cognitive barriers limiting access to culture and ensuring an enjoyable and satisfying visit to its properties by all visitors. From this perspective, in conjunction with the ENS Regional Council in Lombardy, a special project for deaf people called Hearing art was developed. Deaf visitors can visit the house-museum in group visits, on prior booking, conducted by guides with specific Italian Sign Language training and a degree in art. Furthermore individual visitors to Villa Panza can use tablets with  a free video-guide in Italian Sign Language and International Sign Language  made available by the museum.