TURIN – The April 10th marks a special moment in the heart of Turin and in the Italian cultural panorama: it is the birthday of Mole Antonellianaone of the most recognizable symbols of the city and an icon of world architecture.
Its history has its roots in the 19th century, when the architect Alessandro Antonelli he received the commission to build a synagogue for the growing Jewish community of Turin. However, what was supposed to be a place of worship was transformed into a monumental work, characterized by an imposing structure and a very high dome, which would have dominated the city panorama.
Construction began in 1863, but the work was interrupted several times due to financial and political difficulties. Despite the obstacles, Antonelli’s vision was never abandoned. After his death in 1888, other architects took his place to carry on the project. Finally, in 1889, the Mole Antonelliana was completed. With his 167.5 meters high, became the tallest masonry building in the world at the time. However, the work still underwent transformations: in 1904 the characteristic spire was added, which brought the total height at 167.5 meters, while in 1961 the panoramic lift was added which allowed visitors to admire the city from above.
In the following years, the Mole Antonelliana played various roles: from a religious symbol to a cinema museum, becoming an important tourist and cultural attraction for Turin and Italy as a whole.
Today, on its birthday, the Mole Antonelliana continues to inspire and fascinate visitors from all over the world, testifying to the strength of the vision of a great architect and the tenacity of a city that has been able to preserve and enhance its historical and cultural heritage .
That day, when the Mole collapsed…
Era on May 23, 1953. Witnesses said that after a particularly hot day, a terrible storm broke out towards evening and at 7.25pm a whirlwind broke the spire, then built entirely of bricks, which fell into the RAI garden below without, fortunately and incredibly, causing any victims.
The spire was rebuilt in subsequent years and finished in 1960 bringing the Mole back to its previous height. This time however, the tip was not only built of bricks, but fortified with metal armor covered in stone.
The star on the tip was also reinforced, made three-dimensional and twelve-pointed. Before the star, on the tip of the Mole it was located the Winged Genie. This genius was killed during another storm, which occurred in Turin in 1904. Most likely struck by lightning, the Winged Genie landed and remained miraculously poised on the terrace below, without causing any victims.
The statue, which was later replaced by the 5-pointed star, is still visible today inside the Mole.
