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Mole Antonelliana
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
poi · IT

Mole Antonelliana

Getting around: In central Turin, a short walk from Piazza Castello.
Hours: Typically open daily except Tuesdays, roughly 9am-7pm (later on Saturdays); the panoramic lift and National Cinema Museum inside share the same building and hours.

The Mole Antonelliana is Turin's most recognizable landmark, a tall 19th-century building originally intended as a synagogue before the project was taken over by the city and repurposed, eventually becoming, for a time, the tallest building in Europe made of masonry. Its distinctive stepped spire dominates the Turin skyline and appears on the Italian two-cent coin.

A glass panoramic lift runs up through the center of the building to an observation deck offering views over Turin and the surrounding Alps on clear days.

The building's lower floors house the National Cinema Museum, one of the largest film museums in the world, making the Mole a combined architecture, view, and museum stop rather than just a tower climb.

Mole Antonelliana FAQs

Was this really meant to be a synagogue?

Yes, originally, though the project's escalating cost led the Jewish community to sell it to the city, which converted it into a monument and eventually a museum building.

Is the lift included with the museum ticket?

Combined tickets covering both the panoramic lift and the National Cinema Museum are commonly available.

What can I see from the top?

A view over Turin's rooftops and, on clear days, the surrounding Alps.

Is it closed any day?

Typically closed on Tuesdays.

How tall is it?

About 167 meters, making it one of the tallest historic masonry structures in Europe at the time of its completion.

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