Casabianca: New Art Space Opens in Como with De Santis Collection

Casabianca, a new art space in Como, Italy, opened in a 1930s building designed by Piero Ponci. The project is a philanthropic venture by hoteliers Paolo and Antonella De Santis, who have collected contemporary art for 40 years. The building, originally a luxury villa for textile industrialists, later a silk showroom and a bank, was purchased by the De Santis family in 2024. Casabianca features about ten rooms displaying works from their collection, including site-specific installations by Giulio Paolini, Stefano Arienti, and Francesco Simeti. Artists represented include Alighiero Boetti, Mario Merz, Marina Abramovic, Emilio Vedova, Luigi Ontani, and many others. The space is designed to feel like a private home, with no labels on artworks; visitors are encouraged to use catalogues provided in each room. A café by Milanese brand Cova is on the ground floor, and three suites on the upper floor help sustain the project economically. Entry is €15. Educational programs for schoolchildren and adults are offered. Casabianca is located at Lungo Lario Trento, 47, Como, and is open Tuesday 3-6 PM, Wednesday to Sunday 11 AM-6 PM.