Mole Antonelliana

Turin's unmistakable landmark

The Mole Antonelliana rises 167 metres above the whole old town and is the undisputed symbol of Turin, so much so that it appears on the Italian 2-cent coin. It was begun in 1863 by the architect Alessandro Antonelli, originally as a synagogue for the city's Jewish community. The project grew to such a scale, though, that the city eventually took it over, and it was finally completed in 1889. For a long time the Mole was one of the tallest brick buildings in the world.

The National Cinema Museum

Inside, the Mole is now home to the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, one of the world's leading film museums. The exhibition spirals upward: optical toys and magic lanterns from before the age of cinema, original props and costumes, and a large hall with reclining seats (the Aula del Tempio), where film clips are projected onto the walls. The visit is an experience even without any prior interest in film history. Allow around two hours for the museum and lift together.

Riding the panoramic lift

For many visitors, the real highlight is the glass panoramic lift, which floats freely straight up through the open interior. At 85 metres it reaches the viewing platform, with a 360-degree view over the rooftops of Turin, the Po river and, on a clear day, the arc of the Alps with Monviso. It's at its best in the late afternoon light. The lift can be visited separately for €9; the combined ticket with the museum costs €23 and is cheaper than buying both tickets individually.

Tickets and prices

• Panoramic lift alone: €9 (reduced €7)
• Cinema museum alone: €18 (reduced €16)
• Combined museum + lift ticket: €23 (reduced €20)
• The reduced rate applies to ages 6 to 26; children up to 5 go free
• With the Torino+Piemonte Card, the museum and lift are included

Online tickets are available through the museum's official ticketing site; they open up 19 hours before the chosen time slot. Groups (up to 25 people) must book in advance.

Planning your visit

The Mole stands at Via Montebello 20, in the lively Vanchiglia neighbourhood near Via Po, about 800 metres from Piazza Castello. There's no metro station right next to it; the closest stop is Rossini on Via Po (buses 61, 55, 56, trams 13 and 15). It's open Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00, closed on Tuesdays; last admission is one hour before closing. At weekends and in high season, queues build up at the lift, arriving early or booking an online time slot saves waiting. If you're heading into the centre anyway, the visit pairs well with the nearby Museo Egizio.