Built in the 17th century by the prelate Ulpiano Volpi, a member of the Roman Curia, Palazzo Volpi was used as a courthouse until the 1970s. It was designed by the architect Sergio Venturi, originally from Siena but adopted by Rome, known mainly for his catafalque of Pope Paul V. Today it houses the Pinacoteca Civica di Palazzo Volpi in Como, with works chronologically divided into four sections. The Medieval section features a large number of Carolingian sculptures from the church of Sant'Abbondio, as well as Romanesque and Gothic sculptures and frescoes. The Renaissance section offers a selection of portraits of illustrious men by Paolo Giovio and significant objects related to the completion of the cathedral, such as stained glass windows, sculptures, tapestries, and wooden models. The Paintings section provides a broad overview of artists active in Como from the 16th to the 19th century, with large altarpieces from churches suppressed during the Napoleonic era and paintings from private collections. The 20th-century section features photographs, paintings, sculptures, and prototypes of furniture documenting the highlights of artistic creativity in Como, from the Futurism of Antonio Sant'Elia to the abstract art of the Gruppo Como and the synthesis of the arts attempted by Ico Parisi.