The castle was built in the thirteenth century and lived in by the Visconti family from 1251. Part of the west facade was altered during the 17^th century, as were the interiors, which were renovated in the Baroque style with exquisitely frescoed and lavishly furnished rooms featuring 17^th century frescoes attributed to the school of Procaccini.

The Museum today preserves more than 5,000 works including paintings, sculptures, installations, artist's books, photographs, design objects and graphic works that offer visitors a rich and articulated panorama of the main artistic orientations from the mid-twentieth century to the present day. with openings on contemporary international research. The temporary exhibitions are notable and of international appeal.

Set deep in the countryside north of Varese by the Castelseprio Archaeological Park, the site of Torba Abbey is home to more than a millennium of history. It started out as a military outpost towards the end of the Roman Empire and later fell into the hands of the Goths and then the Longobards (with defensive walls and towers dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries). Later Torba became a peaceful place of prayer and work for Benedictine nuns which led to the church and abbey being built in the thirteenth century.