10 Reasons to visit Torino - Part 2. The world's tallest non residential building
If you wonder what is there to see, to do and to eat in Torino, follow this series and you'll get a reason to add it to your bucketlist.
Matteo
1/29/20262 min read
If you think tall buildings are a North American or, more recently, Arab and Southeast Asian prerogative, you are probably wrong. Italy is certainly not known for its skyscrapers, although there are some important buildings in Milan and Turin, designed by major architectural firms. Surprisingly enough, however, Turin boasts a truly unique building, so tall and iconic that it has become the very symbol of the city and is now even used to create logos (including the one of Localguidepiemonte) and evocative graphics for the city: the Mole Antonelliana.
It is the tallest non-residential building in the world, constructed entirely of brick (although the spire was rebuilt and strengthened with the addition of a metal frame after the violent hurricane that struck Turin on May 23rd, 1953).
The Mole Antonelliana was originally conceived as a synagogue, commissioned by the local Jewish community, but never fulfilled that purpose. Construction, begun in 1863 and was halted due to exponential increases in construction costs caused by the constant modifications that architect Alessandro Antonelli continued to make to the originally approved design, making it impossible to predict the building's final form and its economic impact on the community. The City of Turin completed construction in 1889, with a final height of 167.5 m (549 ft).
The building houses the National Cinema Museum, which displays memorabilia related to numerous films, as well as costumes, posters, and an experiential approach to special effects. Don't forget to ride the glass elevator that runs through the dome's void, heading to the panoramic terrace at the top for a splendid view of the city and the Alps. (Not suitable for those with vertigo.)
For museum and elevator tickets, click here.
Note: the National Cinema Museum and the Elevator are pretty popular attractions in Torino. Book your entrance in due advance to secure your entrance slot and book my tour "Torino: the first Capital of film industry" to leanr the role the city played in this sector.