Rising to a height of 167.5 m, the Mole Antonelliana is an unmistakable icon within the Turin cityscape. Built between 1863 and 1888, it was, upon its completion, the highest fully-accessible building in the world, beating Cologne cathedral by 8 metres.
Originally intended to become a synagogue, it was commissioned by the Jewish community. However, the unbridled ambition of the architect caused the building costs to more than double, doubtless causing much beating of foreheads and cries of I can afford that, already? The good burghers of Turin stepped in to make it a museum for the Italian 'Risorgimento' epoch: the 19th-century movement for Italian unification that culminated in the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
There is an excitingly-fast express glass lift without a visible shaft that whisks you up to the outside observation platform, where a neat collection of firm iron bars persuades jumpers that their intended activity is not just a waste of time, but rather downright impossible.
On a clear day, there is a good view of the Alps, but remember that Turin can very often be too hazy for such a treat.
Flying down again to ground level gives you optional access to the main content of the building, which is the National Cinema Museum (or if you prefer the sexy name: 'Il museo nazionale del cinema.'
This really is great fun and imaginatively presented. It starts with the origins of cinema and shows how moving pictures evolved from the well-known revolving internally-lit circular cards through some fun What the butler saw machines to present-day technology.
In the centre is a remarkable sight. Do you remember ever having done things in the back row of the cinema that would have better not been recorded for posterity? Go on, admit it!
Well here, I had to suppress a giggle upon surveying a large collection of very low loungers, each equipped with stereo speakers at the head end. A sort of 'Club-Class Gaumont' if you like, but no ice-cream ladies which is a shame, considering that you are in Italy. The loungers are all at a reasonably respectable distance from each other, so forget it. ;-)
You can crash for as long as you want and look up to two very large screens showing approx. 15 min. clips from Italian classics featuring the likes of Mastroianni, Lollobrigida and Loren etc. The whole show lasts for well over an hour. Intermittently, there is a kind of 'Son et Lumiere' show which is beamed right up to the inside of the dome and is very spectacular to watch, while the lift rockets to the top and back down.
Now let's think about your average museum catering tat. You can forget about that here! Apart from a stylish bar, there are very elegant and stylish eateries that give you the opportunity to oversee the proceedings.
Feeling deprived of sun, we did however opt to eat in a trattoria outside.
I can't remember what it costs but I'm sure it was about five quid a nose for lift and museum and worth every penny.
The pix show panoramic views including a hint of Alps from a previous visit, the sunnier view downwards from this year and an evening shot.
A must when in Turin. read more
