Mole Antonelliana

The Mole (Italian mole: "very big building " ) is the landmark of the Italian city of Turin. The pavilion-like building with its tall, tapering strongly essay was written in the years 1863-1889 according to the plans of the architect Alessandro Antonelli Turin ( 1798-1888 ). He had been started at the request of the Jewish community as a synagogue and originally estimated at 280,000 lire. The overreaching ambition of the architect to build a unique and masterful building, with costs explode so that in 1876 already 692,000 lire were issued, the building was still not completed. Despite ambitious attempts of the Jewish community finally could muster no more money and the object was thanks to a citizens' initiative in 1877, taken over by the city, the 1895 Museum of the Risorgimento have arranged. The establishment of a nearly 4 -meter-high figure of a winged genius on the top marked in April 1889, the completion of the construction.

With a height of 167.50 meters, the Mole was the second highest accessible building in the world at its completion; surpassed the eight years earlier completed cathedral at eleven meters. Only the obelisk of four years earlier completed the monument to George Washington was 180 centimeters higher. The dome structure is regarded as the utmost that can be made in the traditional manner (without reinforced concrete ). Antonelli could reach enormous proportions, by thus at a relatively great ease scored the brick masonry walls with pilaster reinforced and high stability. By 1953, the Mole was the tallest executed in brick wall building technology in the world.

On May 23, 1953, the peak was destroyed by a tornado. It was in 1961 rebuilt in the form of a disguised with stones metal tip. The whole structure is attached to reinforced concrete.

Modeled after the Mole, the dome of the Supreme Court was in Leipzig.

The building now houses the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, the most important film museum in Italy. Inside a free-floating glass elevator to the observation deck leads to 85 meters in height. From here you have a wonderful view over the city and on a clear day to the Alps.

The Mole is shown on the Italian 2 cent coin. She was also the model for the official logo of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.