Turin / Mole Antonelliana & Museo Nazionale del Cinema
Landmark · Museums
Mole Antonelliana & Museo Nazionale del Cinema
A 167-metre masonry spike, started as a synagogue and finished as the symbol of the city.
- Price
- From €11 museum · lift ticketed separately
- Hours
- Roughly 9am–7pm, later on weekends
- Avg. visit
- 1.5–2 hours
- Book ahead
- Recommended for the lift in high season
Construction began in 1863 to serve as Turin's new synagogue, but costs escalated so far beyond the community's means that the city eventually took over the project and repurposed it as a civic monument. Completed to a height of 167 metres, the Mole was for a time the tallest brick building in Europe, and it has since become the single image most associated with the city — appearing, among other places, on the Italian two-cent coin.
Since 2000 the vast internal hall has housed the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, one of the most inventive film museums anywhere. Rather than conventional galleries, the space is organised as a spiral of themed chapels rising around the hall's open central void, with tiered reclining seating in the middle where visitors can watch clips projected onto the dome overhead.
Inside
What to see
- The panoramic lift, rising through the open void of the hall to an observation deck near the spire
- The themed chapels circling the hall, covering pre-cinema devices, genres and major film movements
- The central reclining seating area, where clips are projected onto the vast domed ceiling
- The Alpine panorama from the observation deck on a clear day, widely considered the best skyline view in any Italian city
Practical
Good to know
- The panoramic lift is ticketed separately from the museum admission, and queues for it can be long in high season.
- The glass lift runs straight up the middle of the open hall, giving views down into the museum as you ascend — not for anyone uneasy with heights.
- Clear days are considerably better for the summit view — check the forecast if the Alpine panorama is your main reason for going up.
Timing
When it's busiest
- Morning
- Quiet
- Midday
- Busy
- Afternoon
- Busy
- Last hour
- Quiet
Nearby
Combine your visit
10-minute walk
Museo Egizio
Continue to one of the world's finest Egyptology collections.
Visit →
10-minute walk
Piazza San Carlo & the historic cafés
Head to the city's grand baroque square for a coffee break.
Visit →
15-minute walk
Palazzo Reale & the Musei Reali
Visit the former Savoy royal residence and its museum complex.
Visit →
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need a separate ticket for the lift?
Yes — the panoramic lift to the observation deck is ticketed separately from general museum admission.
Is the museum worth it if I'm not especially into film?
Most visitors say yes — the building and the inventive, spiral layout are as much the draw as any individual exhibit.
What's the best time to go up for the view?
On a clear day, ideally outside the busiest midday hours, since visibility to the Alps varies significantly with weather.
How long should I plan for?
About an hour and a half to two hours for the museum and the lift together, more if there's a queue.