Mole Antonelliana

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The Mole Antonelliana is a famous building in Turin, Italy. It was designed by architect Alessandro Antonelli and named after him. Construction began in 1863 and was finished in 1889. It was first planned as a synagogue for Turin’s Jewish community, but the city eventually completed it after the community withdrew. The building is 167.5 meters tall and was the tallest brick building in Europe at the time; today it is known as the National Museum of Cinema, housed inside since 2000 (it had previously hosted the Museum of the Risorgimento from 1908 to 1938).

Over the years the top has changed a lot. A winged statue collapsed in 1904 and was replaced by a copper five-pointed star, which fell in 1953 and was replaced by a smaller 12-point star. A tornado in 1953 destroyed the upper part of the spire, and it was rebuilt in 1961 as a metal structure faced with stone. The Mole is a symbol of Turin and has appeared on Italian coins and in logos for various events.