In 1898 Dr Carlo Erba, a well-known Milanese pharmaceutícal industrialist, entrusted to the architects Borsani and Savoldi the erection of a great villa in white marble with a broad flight of steps descending towards the lake.

From Dr Erba the villa was transferred to one of his daughters, Carla, Count Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone's wife. From this charming couple it was transferred to their children; the most famous one was the great director Luchino Visconti.

In 1985 Villa Erba was acquired with its whole very broad level park by public bodies in the vicinity, who, from then on, use the surrounding possessions and the villa itself for high-level manifestations and exhibitions.