Mole Antonelliana
تورينو
With its soaring spire, the Mole Antonelliana is Torino's undisputed symbol and, when it was completed, the tallest masonry building in the world. Born as a synagogue, today it houses the National Cinema Museum. Your treasure map takes you to the foot of the tower that rules the skyline of Italy's first capital.
History
The Mole Antonelliana was designed by the architect Alessandro Antonelli and begun in 1863. It was originally conceived as a synagogue for Torino's Jewish community, but the costs and the ever-growing height of the project led the community to hand it over to the City of Torino, which dedicated it to King Vittorio Emanuele II. Work was completed in 1889, after Antonelli himself had died.
What to see
The Mole reaches a height of about 167 metres and stands out for its slender dome and the spire on top. When it was completed, in 1889, it was the tallest masonry building in the world.
Since 2000 the building has housed the National Cinema Museum, one of the most important of its kind in the world, with a spectacular layout that unfolds through the central hall. A glass panoramic lift climbs up to the "tempietto", the little temple at the top, offering a 360-degree view over Torino and the Alps.
Curiosities
The Mole Antonelliana appears on the back of Italian two-cent euro coins. Its image is also tied to the Cinema Museum and to many of the city's cultural initiatives.
Visiting
The National Cinema Museum and the panoramic lift charge admission, with combined tickets available. It stands in the centre of Torino, a short walk from Piazza Castello and the main streets of the historic centre.
