Fondazione Ugo Da Como: 7,000 Years of History in Lonato del Garda

The Fondazione Ugo Da Como in Lonato del Garda, Brescia, manages a monumental complex spanning 7,000 years of history. Established in 1942 by Royal Decree following the will of Senator Ugo Da Como, a key Italian political figure who served as undersecretary to finance and minister of military assistance and war pensions, the foundation oversees a museum, a library with over 52,000 volumes dating to the 12th century, and the Rocca visconteo veneta, one of Lombardy's largest fortresses. In 2019, the site welcomed over 80,000 visitors, exceeding 100,000 including events. Despite the COVID-19 crisis, which forced cancellation of key events like Fiori nella Rocca and Fiabe nella Rocca, the foundation continued investments thanks to partnerships with UBI Banca, Feralpi Group, GreenUp, Epson, and others. Upcoming projects include three augmented reality tours with ArtGlass, an immersive projection room, a new lighting system, an enogastronomic event, and a virtual visit platform. The foundation has secured about €500,000 in extraordinary funding from Regione Lombardia, GAL Garda e Colli mantovani, and Fondazione Cariplo. President Antonio Porteri emphasizes a sustainable model of territorial development based on collaboration with local institutions, businesses, and volunteers.