Inside Turin’s Mole Antonelliana, the National Museum of Cinema follows the story of filmmaking through objects, images and interactive displays. The exhibition winds upward through the building, with material on early cinema, film production, special effects and movie genres. Look out for vintage equipment, posters, costumes and props, including pieces associated with well-known films. A glass-walled lift also travels to a panoramic terrace 85 metres above the ground, where you can see across Turin. Book ahead if you want to include the lift in your visit.
A cinema museum inside the Mole Antonelliana
The Museo Nazionale del Cinema occupies the Mole Antonelliana, a landmark tower in Turin. The building was originally designed as a synagogue, though it was never used as a place of worship. Today, its distinctive dome and spire house a museum devoted to cinema and its development in Italy and elsewhere.
The museum grew from the collection assembled by Maria Adriana Prolo. Its holdings include posters, photographs, film reels, costumes, scripts and equipment used in production. The range takes in cinema’s early history as well as later filmmaking, so the visit is about the tools and ideas behind movies as much as familiar screen images.
Follow the exhibition upward
Rather than moving through a series of separate galleries, the exhibition spirals upward inside the Mole. Along the way, displays introduce the origins of filmmaking, production techniques and the ways cinema connects with other forms of art. Interactive installations explain subjects such as special effects and virtual reality, while vintage devices show how moving images were made in earlier periods.
Film memorabilia gives the route plenty to pause over. Posters, costumes and props sit alongside material linked to well-known productions. Other sections focus on cinema genres, with small screening spaces in the Temple Hall. Give yourself time to browse: the route covers several floors, and stopping for the displays and films can extend the visit.
The panoramic lift and terrace
A glass-walled lift rises through the Mole to a terrace 85 metres above ground. The ride passes through the building’s interior and ends at the panoramic viewing area, where Turin spreads out below. The lift is a separate highlight from the museum’s exhibitions, so plan for it when choosing your ticket.
Advance booking is recommended for the lift. A combined museum-and-lift ticket is another option to consider when arranging your visit. The museum is at Via Montebello 20 in central Turin; the museum entrance is also listed as Via Montebello 20/A.
Häufige Fragen
Where is the National Museum of Cinema in Turin?
It is inside the Mole Antonelliana, at Via Montebello 20. The museum entrance is also listed as Via Montebello 20/A.
Can you go up the Mole Antonelliana?
Yes. A glass-walled panoramic lift takes visitors to a terrace 85 metres above ground. Booking the lift in advance is recommended.
How long should I allow for the museum?
The exhibition spans several floors and includes displays, interactive installations and screening spaces. Allow plenty of time to explore; the available information does not give a typical visit length.
Was the Mole Antonelliana built as a synagogue?
It was originally designed as a synagogue, but was never used as a place of worship.
