The Fondazione Ugo Da Como in Lonato del Garda represents one of the most distinguished cultural and museum hubs in eastern Lombardy. Acting as a guardian of an extraordinary heritage that blends civic architecture, military history, and an immense bibliographic collection, the foundation was established by the Brescian senator Ugo Da Como, who purchased and restored the monumental complex at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Casa del Podestà and the Historic Library
The heart of the foundation is the Casa del Podestà. Built in the mid-15th century as the seat of the representative of the Republic of Venice, the residence was masterfully restored by the architect Antonio Tagliaferri, who transformed it into a refined house-museum. Today, the rooms still house the senator’s original furnishings, majolica, paintings, and art collections.
The most precious treasure is undoubtedly the monumental Library. One of the most important private collections in Italy, it preserves over 50,000 volumes dating from the 12th to the 19th century. The collection includes 404 incunabula (books printed before 1501), hundreds of 16th-century editions, illuminated manuscripts, and the smallest printed book in the world, measuring just 15 by 9 millimeters.
The Visconti Fortress (La Rocca)
Dominating the hill above the Casa del Podestà is the Rocca di Lonato. Originally erected in the 10th century and heavily fortified by the Visconti family in the 14th century, the fortress took its current shape during the rule of the Serenissima Republic. It features an asymmetrical, elongated trapezoidal defensive wall extending for almost 180 meters with patrol walkways and loopholes, the Main Quarter for the military garrison, and the Rocchetta, the highest defensive redoubt. Inside the Rocca spaces, visitors can also explore the “Gustavo Carlotto” Civic Ornithological Museum.
Cultural Events and the Premio Strega
The Fondazione Ugo Da Como plays an active role in national cultural life. Every July, in collaboration with the Bellonci Foundation, the gardens of the Casa del Podestà host the winner of the Premio Strega, Italy’s most prestigious literary award. The Rocca also serves as a natural stage for “Lonato in Festival”, an international exhibition of contemporary circus and outdoor theater. The monumental complex is located at Via Rocca 2, Lonato del Garda, and remains a pillar of heritage for researchers and visitors alike.
