Spazio Natta (Ex chiesa di Sant'Orsola)

Spazio Natta is an exhibition space annexed to Palazzo Natta in Como. Its history connects a former aristocratic residence with the city's municipal and cultural life.

Why it matters

The venue illustrates the changing uses of historic buildings. Rooms once devoted to administration were adapted for temporary exhibitions, adding a cultural role to the complex's earlier residential and civic functions.

What to notice

The distinction between the exhibition space and the adjoining palace is important: Spazio Natta is an annex, not a museum of the entire residence. The palace provides its historical setting, while the exhibition rooms represent a later chapter in the property's use.

Context and history

The Natta family made the palace its residence during its period of prominence in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when family members held administrative offices in Como. After years accommodating municipal offices, the annex was converted into a venue for exhibitions.