Mole Antonelliana, Tower in Crocetta Centre, Turin, Italy
The Mole Antonelliana is a 168-meter tower in the Crocetta Centre district of Turin, topped with an aluminum spire. The masonry structure is 50 meters wide and combines elements from different building traditions in its design.
Construction began in 1863 as a synagogue for the Jewish community of Turin, but rising costs led to the city taking over ownership in 1876. The building was only finished in 1889 after several design changes and technical difficulties along the way.
The tower is home to Italy's national cinema museum, with exhibits spread across several levels inside the structure. Visitors follow spiral galleries lined with old projectors, film posters, and early cameras from across the history of film.
An elevator brings visitors up to the observation platform at 85 meters, from which the city and the Alps are clearly visible. The main entrance on Via Montebello gives access to both the museum inside and the platform above.
The tower appears on the Italian two-cent euro coin and is recognized as the tallest museum building in the world. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche mentioned the structure in his writings during his time in Turin.
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