Immerse yourself in the history of film at one of Turin’s most popular attractions, a spectacularly well-curated museum set within a unique building.
Visit the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, or National Museum of Cinema, to appreciate some wonderful displays on the history of film. Find the vast and impressive collections of the museum housed within one of Turin’s most iconic buildings, the dramatic Mole Antonelliana, which is every bit as magnificent from the inside as it is from the outside.
The museum opened its doors in the year 2000 and has since gone on to become one of the city’s most visited museums. Stand outside the building and take the time to admire it before you step inside. It was named after the architect who designed it, Alessandro Antonelli, and was originally intended to be a synagogue. Although construction got underway in 1863, the scale and ambition of the project meant it would not be completed until 1889, by which point Antonelli had died.
Enter the building and look up and you will soon see why the museum is sometimes said to be the tallest in the world. Stand in the grand atrium and see how its displays spiral upward and upward, across multiple floors.
The museum collections consist of over 1.7 million artifacts, including movie posters and other memorabilia, props, film reels, magazines, photos and more. Learn how the museum is involved in efforts to restore damaged film reels from the early days of the movies.
Check what is on before you visit, as the museum features a varied program of events. These include talks, tours and, of course, movie screenings. This remarkable building makes a fantastic venue for an unusual viewing experience.
Find the National Cinema Museum in the historic heart of Turin. The Mole Antonelliana is hard to miss, being one of the most prominent buildings anywhere in the city. The admission fee to enter the museum includes access to the building’s panoramic elevator, which offers stunning views of Turin. The museum is within easy walking distance of many of the city’s other major attractions, such as the Royal Palace complex, where the famous Shroud of Turin is housed.
