Mole Antonelliana Tower

Address: Via Montebello 20, 10124 Torino TO, Italy

Website: https://www.museocinema.it/

The Mole Antonelliana is a 19th-century landmark tower in central Turin, Piedmont, notable for its distinctive spire and 167.5 metre height. It was designed by architect Alessandro Antonelli and is a symbol of the city.

A major draw is the Museo Nazionale del Cinema housed inside the building, with exhibits ranging from early cameras and projectors to film posters and sets. A panoramic glass elevator rises inside the atrium to an observation area near the top of the tower, offering extensive views over Turin and, on clear days, the Alps.

Commissioned in the 1860s and designed by Alessandro Antonelli, construction began in 1863; the project changed hands from the original private sponsors to municipal control during building and was completed in the late 19th century. The interior was repurposed in the 20th century to house the national cinema collection.

Sited in the heart of Turin, the Mole dominates the city skyline and stands within walking distance of other central landmarks and museums.

• Height: The tower reaches 167.5 metres, making it one of Turin’s most prominent landmarks and historically one of the tallest masonry buildings in Europe.
• Cinema museum: The Museo Nazionale del Cinema occupies the building and displays film history from early apparatus to modern memorabilia, arranged within the Mole’s interior atrium.

What to See#

• Museo Nazionale del Cinema: Houses the national film museum with permanent exhibitions of early film apparatus, posters, cameras and film memorabilia; the museum was founded in 1958 and has been located in the Mole since the turn of the 21st century.
• Observation deck and panoramic lift: A glass panoramic elevator runs up the building’s interior and serves an observation area near the top of the 167.5 m tower, offering wide views across Turin and the surrounding Alps on clear days.

The Mole Antonelliana is a prominent landmark in central Turin. From Torino Porta Nuova station it’s approximately a 10-20 minute walk (around 1-1.5 km) toward the city centre and Piazza Castello area; local buses and trams also serve stops near the monument for a shorter ride.

If driving, follow signs to the historical centre (Centro) - the Mole is within walking distance of most central parking areas.

• Take the glass panoramic lift up to the viewing platform and time your visit for late afternoon or sunset if you want the best light across Turin; elevator queues are shortest at opening and late afternoon.
• Start with the Cinema Museum displays and then ride the lift-many visitors rush straight to the top for the view and miss the richly curated film-technology exhibits on the way up.
• Buy tickets online when possible to avoid lines for the elevator and museum entry, especially on weekends and during holidays when queues for the summit can be long.