The Mannerist Villa Erba was built in the late nineteenth century for the family of that name, in order to entertain illustrious guests and personalities from the cultural, political and industrial worlds of their day. In the 1920s the villa passed to Carla Erba who became the wife of Duke Giuseppe Visconti of Modrone, and thus the mother of the renowned director Luchino Visconti, who lived in the villa.

On the 25 July 2005, the Museum "The Rooms of Luchino Visconti" was opened inside the Villa: a centre dedicated to the bond between the celebrated director and the Villa Erba, now open to the public.

The Museum part of an important historical and architectural project begun in January 2003 aimed at restoring the former splendour of this nineteenth century stately home. The restoration project has been made possible thanks to the financial support of the Lombardy Regional Council for Regional Culture, Identity and Autonomy.