The current Valtellinese Museum of History and Art was the historic residence of the Sassi de' Lavizzari family in the heart of the historic center of Sondrio. It was built in the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th. The most interesting room, located on the first floor, is the "stua", a typical element of the Alpine area completely covered with wooden boiserie. The building is now municipal property and houses the Valtellinese Museum of History and Art, founded in 1947. The fulcrum is the collection of objects previously belonging to the painter Pietro Ligari, his family and his descendants, including paintings, manuscripts, drawings , prints, plaster sculptures, books and objects from the artist's studio. The inclusion in 1963 of the section of the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art with paintings, wooden sculptures and examples of goldsmith craftsmanship has increased the objects on display. The museum's collections range from archeology to contemporary art and it offers various educational services aimed at young people and adults (workshops and temporary exhibitions).