#>how

Art, like love, is a universal language. And there’s a poetic serendipity to finding love, while you are immersed in art. Bianca and Saima met at a spoken word performance and instantly felt a connection.

Bianca says, “We’ve had many challenges before. But since we’ve been together those challenges have seemed less daunting when faced together. It truly feels like a blessing that we were able to find one another.”

Bianca tells us their story and shares highlights from their big day.

“When we met, neither of us was looking for a serious relationship but we did like being with each other. We did date but it took us an entire year before we could admit what we shared was indeed very special and that we wanted to be together.”

“I’m Colombian and Indian and come from a Christian background. My wife is Pakistani from a Muslim background. We were keen on incorporating facets of both cultures in a way that was respectful and personalized at the same time. We had four events, each with its own color scheme and everything was mostly DIY.

The celebrations began with the dhoki which was dominated by blue. The mayoun, which is essentially the haldi ceremony, of course, was all yellow. Our mehendi featured lots of pink. The wedding was dressed in white, gold, and lavender. Our engagement colors had been black and gold so we wanted to contrast that. We added the lavender because we got married in spring.

The wedding was held in my dad’s backyard with 200 guests in attendance. One of our best friends officiated the ceremony which we kept short so we could spend most of our wedding on the dance floor! Our friends and family really came together to help us bring to together our vision. We picked the flowers the day before from the flower district in Downtown Los Angeles and arranged them all on the day of the wedding. Every small detail was splendid and the amount of work everyone put in for our special day was truly heartwarming. It really did take a village and we couldn’t have done it without them!

We had matching outfits for each event which were all designed by Bilal Kazimov, a friend and an incredible designer. We are so happy with the way the clothes turned out and highly recommend him.”

One would expect a fashion designer’s engagement to be high on aesthetics, and Canada-based fashion designer Mani Jassal knocked it out of the park with her impeccable planning. The beautiful setup looked stunning, and the 200 guests who followed the all-white dress code added that special vibe to the celebrations.

The bride tells us about everything that made this day special and her journey with her fiance Hark.

“Hark already had a barn on his property, and being the hands-on person that he is, he transformed it into the space that we had imagined and desired for our engagement. The theme of the event was inspired by Tulum, Mexico, where he had proposed to me. The location went very well with the boho/rustic theme we were going for, and for additional space we had a tent right beside the barn. An added advantage of hosting a wedding right at home was that we didn’t have to worry about dates!”

There were so many little details that we incorporated into the function. Hark made swings at the bar to mimic some of the bars and restaurants we visited in Tulum. We had a hammock and macramé swings at the entrance that we sourced in Cuba. We hung organza tassels on the trees. The walkway to the barn was lit with string lights and arrows pointing guests in the right direction. Inside, we also had a projector playing our engagement shoot video, and the dessert table was far from the ordinary – it was a Wake and Bake pop up!”

“I designed my look and wanted it to be very boho, but still be on-brand. The skirt was a combination of tulle with mirror work, and silk with badla work while the top was a bustier to which I added detachable puff sleeves. Even the dupatta that Hark’s parents gifted me was designed by me. It had the lyrics of ‘So into you’ written on the border along with ‘Hark and Mani’ and our proposal date. The dupatta was finished with a gota border that was a tribute to both our mothers’ wedding dupattas, giving it a touch of tradition.”

“The kurta Hark wore was one of the first menswear wedding pieces that I have designed. I wanted him to wear a Lucknowi ensemble, and I designed the sleeves with my signature hierarchy detailing. He wore this with a shawl draped like the traditional Punjabi khasi, which ended up completing the look nicely.”

“I entered the venue with my sister and cousins, which to me was the most memorable aspect of the evening. Typically the brothers walk the bride to the groom, but I didn’t grow up with brothers, it was just my sisters and me. I didn’t think I would cry, but the song playing at that moment, the realization that this was really happening, and seeing my parents crying hit me all at once and it got super emotional.”

“We had 200 guests attending the engagement, and all the ladies were asked to dress in white, while the men were requested to wear linens or florals. Every single person was in sync with the theme.”

Event Planner: Chic Events Decor: Paras Events Bride’s Outfit: Mani Jassal Groom’s Outfit: Mani Jassal Jewellery: Minerali Makeup and Hairstyling: Aniya Mandy

Photography: Renata Kaveh

It was three years ago when Aditya and Amit met for the first time. Their connection was instant and one date was all it took for them to realize that their relationship was worth pursuing. Fast forward to July 2019, and the couple announced their wedding on Instagram.

With a relaxed backyard mehndi, traditional temple wedding and a raging sangeet-style cocktail party, Aditya and Amit ensured that their wedding included a variety of celebrations. Amit says, “We didn’t realize the impact that a simple wedding at a temple would have on people around the world looking for hope. There is no secret to acceptance, tolerance or happiness. You just have to find the right partner to take the step with. Let the truth of your love speak for itself.”

Their gorgeous wedding and the beauty of their bond is inspiring. Here, Aditya shares their story.

“Our first date was at a Mexican restaurant near Wall Street. It lasted for more than four hours because we couldn’t stop talking. It felt great to meet someone on the same wavelength who shared similar interests.”

“I would tell them to relax, take their time and focus on sharing each other with their friends and families. At the end of the day, approval comes from knowing WHO the person is versus knowing their preferences. We got immediate support from our loved ones because we both took the time to invest in each other’s lives and allow people to get to know us individually.”

Nidhi and Varun first met at a music festival but long after the festival ended, the romantic background score played on. A few years later, they decided to celebrate their wedding at the Jai Mahal Palace. The festivities, orchestrated by WeddingSutra Favorite – Indian Wedding Planners, were a sight to behold! Co-founder Anant Khandelwal says, “Our vision for this wedding was to create regal magnificence and we spared no effort in trying to achieve absolute perfection. Right from palatial venues and magnificent decor to captivating couple entries and other unique details, everything contributed to this royal theme. This indeed was a once in a lifetime celebration that will be cherished not only by the two families but also their gusts.”

The groom tells us their story and shares highlights from their wedding.

“Soon after the engagement, our families decided on a destination wedding in Jaipur. We wanted the venue to be very regal and Jai Mahal Palace stole our hearts! The 280-year-old, 18-acre property has three large lawns that are frequented by peacocks and various species of birds. Not only was this hotel undeniably majestic but even the staff were incredibly warm and hospitable.”

Indian Wedding Planners and it was a pleasure working with them. They did a fantastic job of bringing everything that we wanted to life using their expertise. The team was patient, cooperative, willing to understand our needs and eager to work with us as a family. We are grateful to have had them by our side through this journey.”

“We kicked off the wedding with a smashing pool party in shades of blue, yellow and white. At the entrance, we had trellises decorated with oversized paper flowers along with wooden ladders decked with fresh blooms. The canopies featured origami birds while colorful paper lanterns were suspended from the trees. The vibrant color palette we chose was perfect for this bright day!”

Rambagh Palace under the starry sky. While the decor designed for this function further enhanced the regal appeal of the venue, the stellar performances put together by our family and friends made this night absolutely unforgettable.”

“For the Sufi Night, Nidhi and I made our entry to the song ‘Azeem-O-Shaan Shehenshah’ in a horse-drawn chariot. The dress code was red and gold. The décor was filled with Moroccan-inspired elements – metal water jugs decorated with flowers as centerpieces, large Moroccan lamps at the entrance and sofas with bright rugs and cushions set the stage.”

Jai Mahal Palace to life. I arrived with my baaraat on an elephant for the varmala. This was followed by a beautiful ceremony conducted by a priest who explained the significance of each ritual. These were some of the most poignant moments from all the festivities and are sure to be etched in our memories forever.”

Venues: Jai Mahal Palace (Pool Party, Mehendi, Sufi night and Wedding), Rambagh Palace (Sangeet) Wedding Planner: Indian Wedding Planners Makeup: Zorains Studio and Khowsalya DJ: DJ Ronnie Choreography: Vijay and Zafar

Photography: The Candid Pictures

My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

Want to visit the spectacular Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy? In this post, we share the best things to do and how to get the most from your visit. Read on to start planning your to Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso!

What’s in our guide to visiting Gran Paradiso National Park?

1. 3. 5.

When you’re in Turin, the Alps call to you. The mountains arc around the city, far away enough to be mysterious, close enough to be incredibly tantalizing. While wandering Torino, for all that I love the city, part of me just keeps thinking “Why aren’t we in the Alps right now?”

The great news is that it’s easy to visit Gran Paradiso National Park (or Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, if you want to practice your Italian) from Turin.

The park is nestled in the Alps on the border with France, not far from the city. Driving takes a little more than an hour, or you can hire a guide to take you, or even go by public transport.

Hiking in Gran Paradiso, you will get to see spectacular views. Photo by Davide Glarey via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

Whether you want to take a gentle stroll through an Alpine meadow or challenge yourself on an almost vertical hike up above 2,000 m (6,500 ft), you’ll find the opportunity in Gran Paradiso.

The bad news is that there are so many places to hike and so little information available, especially in English, that it can be tough to decide where to go for your day trip!

Start with the Gran Paradiso tourist map — which we didn’t discover until after our visit — which will be big help in planning your trip.

The Gran Pardiso tourist map is very useful to help planning your trip.

We opted for a challenging day hike, taking us to the peak of Punta Quinseina, just above 2200 m high. Luckily we drove up to about 1500 m first, otherwise we never would have made it to the top!

Though the hike was marked as “medium” on all our apps, it was more than enough challenge for us for that day, leaving our legs sore and our knees aching by the end. It was also incredibly rewarding.

So, if you’re interested in exploring the mountains and finding some time to reconnect with yourself through nature, read on to discover…

How to do a Spectacular Day Trip to Gran Paradiso National Park

Before you start reading the details, watch our short video of our day hike in Gran Paradiso to get inspired!

Also don’t miss these posts:

Your complete Torino guide → The best day in Sacra di San Michele → Your guide to visiting Mole Antonelliana →

Don’t forget to stop and breathe deeply and enjoy the views while you’re in the park.

The park’s origin story is a little sad — it all began because people love to kill wildlife. The area had been a hunting ground for the royal family and was also frequented by poachers. It was originally protected by Vittorio Emmanuel as a Royal Hunting Reserve, so that the Alpine ibex would be protected from poachers (and reserved for Royal hunters).

In 1922, the land was donated by the royals to Italy and it became Italy’s first national park. Though the ibex were supposed to be protected, the law was not enforced at first and the population dwindled to dangerously low numbers.

Now, they are properly protected and the ibex population is healthy and thriving! They are also daredevils.

You won’t lack for any amazing views when you visit Gran Pardiso National Park.

OK, you probably climb every mountain in the park, but there are lots of opportunities for rock climbing and ice climbing in Gran Paradiso.

For climbers, basing yourself in Turin or somewhere on the Piedmont side of the park is perfect, as this is where you’ll find the best climbing routes in the park. Check out the Orco Valley and the Soana Valley for incredible climbing opportunities.

Sleep in a Refuge

If you’ve hiked to a refuge hut anywhere in North America, you might be picturing a small wooden hut, with some sleeping bunks, a fireplace, and not much else.

But in Gran Paradiso, many of the huts (refugio) are European-style. That is to say, they are almost full-service hotels, with restaurants and comfortable beds. Your chance to in style.

Different huts offer different services, so make sure you know what to expect and what you need to bring before you go.

Spot the Wildlife

We didn’t get to see a marmot on our trip to the park. Next time! Photo by Dario de Siena via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

On our hike up Punta Quinseina, we kept our eyes and ears open for marmots. Alas, it was a little early in the season and we didn’t get to se any. The only wildlife we saw, apart from lots of soaring birds, was the not-so-rare Italian hang-glider. They did make for an impressive site, soaring through the air at 1500 m!

Marmots do populate the park though. These plump rodents evolved to deal with the harsh mountain climates, and can hibernate for up to 9 months of the year. You’ll often hear marmots before you see them. They make a high-pitched chirp that sounds a lot like a bird, and, if you get to close, their chirping will increase in frequency.

Deeper in the park, you might see the Alpine ibex (also know as the Steinbock) which is the symbol of the park. As we said in the intro, it’s because of these long-horned wild goats that the park was established in the first place.

You might also spot a chamois, another species of goat that looks like the steinbock but with shorter horns. However, female steinbocks also have shorter horns, so it’s easy to get them confused.

Keep your eyes to the skies to spot golden eagles, impressive birds of prey that feed on marmots and other small mammals — but are sometimes big enough to make off with a small goat. Yikes!

Finally, a wolf pack has recently taken residence in the Aosta Valley. You probably won’t see wolves (which is a good thing) but you may hear them howling at the moon.

Get on Your Bike

If you’d rather roll than walk, there are plenty of bike trails in the park, from fully paved gentle routes to all-out technical mountain bike trails. Many routes pass through some of the historic Alpine villages that skirt the lower edges of the park.

Explore a Winter Wonderland

If you do a multi-day trip, you’ll be in the mountains for sunset. Photo by Martino Nicolino via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

If you happen to visit Italy in winter, strap on your snow shoes and hit the park trails. You can also cross-country ski, downhill ski, and go ice climbing in Gran Paradiso.

Visit the Botanical Garden

If you want a little less energetic outing, the Paradisia Alpine Botanic Garden is a great destination. Located on the Aosta Valley, this 10,000 square metre garden gives you a chance to see Alpine flora up close.

The best time to go is mid-June to mid-July, when you can take a guided tour or visit independently using the garden brochure to navigate.

Driving in Italy is truly mind-boggling / terrifying!

Once you’re off the busy city streets and fast-moving highways, you’ll also have to contend with winding, narrow roads, often single-lane, that switchback their way up the mountains.

If you don’t have a lot of driving experience and/or nerves of steel, I’d suggest you find another way to get there.

But, if you want drive to Gran Pardiso, here’s how:

From Turin to Valle Orco, point your GPS towards Rivarolo Canavese. From there, take road 460, which follows the route of the Orco River. Turn right at Pont Canavese, onto the SP 47 to reach the Soana Valley.

Getting to Gran Paradiso By Bus or Train

From Turin, you can take the bus to Rivarolo (line 131 Torino to Rivarolo) or the train from Torino Porta Susa to Rivarolo and Pont stations. From there, public bus lines serve Valle Orco (line 137 Rivarolo or Pont to Locana or Noasca) and Val Soana (line 140 Pont to Valprato Soana).

To get to the Aosta Valley from Torino, follow the instructions here →

The day hike we did was up all the way, but you can do flat hikes in the park, too.

If you’re looking for a rewarding day hike within easy reach of Turin, you can try the same hike we did — up Punta Quinseina di Santa Elisabetta. Technically this hike is not inside Gran Paradiso but it’s close enough to get the idea!

The hike starts at the tree line and goes up from there, so you get to experience panoramic views of the foothills and the mountains the entire way. No dull forested trail where you can’t see anything!

If you don’t like climbing, this one is not for you.

It starts with a steep uphill, which takes you to a gorgeous alpine meadow. Spend a little time taking in the views of the Alps and watching the hang-gliders soar above your head. There’s also a small stone hut which is interesting — but resist the temptation to go inside. The structure looks fundamentally unsound.

Past the meadow, the path turns upwards again, and continues on a steep incline until you reach the summit. The trail is rocky and somewhat technical. You’ll need shoes with good grip and support to be comfortable.

As you climb, you’ll be rewarded by the continually incredible views. The most magnificent one is at the summit, where you experience 360 degrees of Alpine perfection.

There’s a guest book at the summit, hidden inside the small cabinet connected to the steel cross. Look for our entry and make sure to leave your own!

If you haven’t had enough after you summit, you can continue along the ridge trail and off into the wilderness. As we took about 3 hours to climb up, we’d had plenty of walking and did not extend our hike!

How to Get to Punta Quinseina

Once you get into the mountains, you may have to contend with narrow steep roads, like this one used in the Giro d’Italia.

The drive from Turin to the Punta Quinseina trailhead is an experience in its own right. The first part is simple highway driving from Turin to Castellamonte (though that didn’t prevent us from getting lost and having to backtrack).

From Castellamonte to Colleretto Castelnuovo, it’s quiet, well maintained country roads. There are lots of speed cameras, especially around the villages, so stick to the speed limit. The fines are around €70, so not worth it!

After Colleretto Castelnuovo, which is a charming sub-alpine town that’s worth a stop, things start to get interesting.

A paved but extremely narrow road leads out of town. Soon you’ll find yourself on a series of (seemingly never-ending) tight switchbacks up the side of the mountain. It is steep and narrow — only wide enough for one car in many places. If you aren’t a confident driver with nerves of steel, you might think twice before attempting it.

We didn’t meet a single car coming down as we were going up, which was a blessing, because I was not prepared to back down that winding ribbon of road.

If you start the drive and feel like it will never end, just think about the cyclists in the Giro d’Italia — this road was part of their route in 2019. It must be absolute murder trying to cycle up here!

Even iPhone photographers will love the photos you can take in the park.

Hike stats. 8 km, 787 m elevation gain, 2,231 m highest elevation, out & back, 4–6 hours for return trip.

Hike summary. There is very little flat terrain on this hike. It’s mostly up, up, up. The trail markers are painted onto rocks along the way, with only a few real signposts.

Go when the weather is clear, as it would be easy to lose the trail in fog. In fact, we managed to lose the trail a couple of times on a perfect, sunny day.

Parking & facilities. There is a small parking lot at the foot of the hike with picnic tables and a public restroom.

Trailhead. The trailhead is a bit hard to find and I think we didn’t manage to start the hike in the right spot. To find the trail from the car park, walk up the paved road until the paving ends.

A road on your left leads to a popular hang-gliding launch spot. Continue past this road on the dirt road that leads toward a small farm. Turn left into what looks like the farm driveway, and you’ll find the trailhead on the left, just before reaching the farmhouse.

There’s an alternative trailhead that starts just behind the hang-gliding launch spot. It’s a little harder to find and starts the hike off with a very steep climb. But it’s do-able, as it’s the one we took!

Use the AllTrails map here to find the directions →

What to bring. As usual, bring all the typical necessities you would bring on any wilderness hike. This includes first aid kit, plenty of water, extra snacks, and warm layers.

We went in early June, and there was still a little snow at the peak, though typically you might find more snow at this time of year. At the bottom, we were in t-shirts and by the time we reached the top, we needed winter hats, gloves, sweaters, and jackets, so be prepared to layer up!

The weather can change extremely quickly up here, so be prepared for any conditions.

Hiking poles would be an asset, for balance and to save your knees on the steep descent. We did the hike without, but I would have loved to have a pair with me.

Also bring a GPS-enabled device and an offline mapping app, so you have assistance in finding your way if you lose the trail (like we did a couple of times). You don’t necessarily need a paper map if you stick to the trail and don’t wander off, but it can be an extra safety asset if your phone dies.

The Alpine Ibex is the originator and symbol of the park. Photo by Dario de Siena via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

If you’re not comfortable Gran Paradiso on your own, or you just want to increase the quotient, you can hire a guide to organize everything and take you to the park.

Mountain Guides Society of Gran Paradiso

Variety of trip lengths and difficulty

The official park mountain guides organization operates every day all year long. They are based in the Aosta Valley but can organize an activity for you closer to Torino if you don’t want to drive that far.

They can guide you on a huge range of activities, from trekking, canyoning, and rock climbing, to snowshoeing, off-piste skiing, and ice climbing.

Explore Gran Paradiso National Park with Trekking Alps

3 days, €449 per person

Rated as 4/5 on the difficulty level, this exciting tour will immerse you in the wonders of Gran Paradiso and give you a chance to completely disconnect from everyday life (to forge a deeper connection to yourself, naturally).

Accommodation is in mountain huts — which are more like rustic hotels, where you get a soft bed and a hot meal — in the wilderness. You can do this as a private hike, or join a scheduled group tour. You can also arrange a self-guided trek through Trekking Alps.

Whether you just want a few hours outside, or you want to challenge yourself on a multi-day hike or back country skiing trip, Gran Paradiso is ideal. Much less crowded than the French Alps, this spectacular corner of Italy offers a true getaway — a place where you can immerse yourself in nature and truly disconnect from everyday stress.

Whatever you’re looking for, big or small, you’ll find it in Gran Paradiso National Park.

We hope this short guide to Gran Paradiso helps you plan your trip. Leave at least one day in your Turin itinerary to visit this magnificent park in the northwest corner of Italy. But if you have time, we recommend spending at least three days to get the most out of the park.

♥  Happy mindful s, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

Pin this for your Gran Paradiso !

My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

The Mole Antonelliana in Torino is the most recognizable building in the city. But it’s not just a great landmark. It’s also a tourist attraction in its own right, housing the National Museum of Cinema and a dramatic glass elevator. This post covers everything you need to know before visiting.

What’s in our guide to visiting Mole Antonelliana in Torino?

1. 3. 5. 7.

The Mole Antonelliana is so important to Torino that it became their Olympics logo.

If you had to capture Turin on a t-shirt, the Mole would be front and centre — in fact, you might not need anything else. The 2006 Turin Olympics used a stylized Mole Antonelliana as the symbol of their games.

For tourists, the Mole in Turin is not just a pretty sight, but also a helpful landmark. If ever you’re lost in Turin, just look up and follow the Mole back to the city centre. It can be seen from all over town.

The tower was built in the late 1800s, and was originally destined to become a synagogue. Its fate changed dramatically, before it was even completed, when the city bought it and decided it would become a national monument to unity instead.

The Mole Antonelliana has served its purpose admirably throughout the years since it first opened.

It has become a gathering place for Italian students, local tourists, and foreigner visitors alike. Squeezing into the tiny elevator that shoots you to the top of the tower, 500 feet in the air, unity is practically enforced, at least for the 60 seconds it takes to ride to the top.

If you plan on exploring Torino’s most important landmark, read on for…

Your Guide to Visiting the Mole Antonelliana Torino & The National Museum of Cinema

Also don’t miss these posts:

Your complete Turin city guide → Day trip to Sacra di San Michele → Venice city guide for an amazing trip →

Near the top of the Mole tower, you can see the square observation deck where you’ll get an incredible view of the city.

The tower was conceived and designed in 1863 by architect Alessandro Antonelli. So that explains the tongue-twisting surname of the tower. And mole (pronounced mo-lay), in this context, roughly means a building of monumental size.

Construction was started under the leadership of Torino’s Jewish community, who imagined that the finished product would become Italy’s grandest synagogue. However, the architect and the people paying for the project ran into — shall we say — artistic differences.

Antonelli wanted the tower to be bigger, taller, and more spectacular! The financiers wanted it to be completed in their lifetimes.

Eventually, the rift grew too great and the Jewish backers handed the project over to the city of Turin. Turns out, they had a right to have been concerned. Antonelli didn’t live to see the tower completed. He died in 1888, about a year before the tower was ready to welcome the public.

However, the city did stay true to Antonelli’s vision of grandeur. When the Mole finally opened in 1889, it rose to a height of 167.5 m (550 ft), (if you included the statue on the top) making it the tallest brick building in Europe.

From the Mole observation deck it is a long way down to the ground!

Though the Mole is impressive from ground level, the real pleasure of a visit lies in the Panoramic Lift, or, as we like to call it, the Great Glass Elevator.

Once you clear the bottom floors, the inside of the Mole tower is completely hollow. This makes the ride from basement to pinnacle in a glass elevator a pretty impressive journey. There is no elevator shaft — just a set of cables that dangles straight down the centre of the tower.

If elevators terrify you, you’ll definitely want to give this one a miss! Or, take a stab at the slow way up — on foot via a staircase housed in the walls of the tower.

For everyone else, grab a spot in line. Actually, go early in the morning on a weekday and you might not have to line up at all.

Another way to skip the line is to book a private Turin tour which includes a visit to the Mole.

As the lift rises through the tower, you’ll get a view of the Cinema Museum, which clings to the inside shell of the structure. After that, architecture fans will enjoy seeing the intricate construction of the tower’s interior up close.

Eventually, the elevator doors open and eject wide-eyed tourists onto a panoramic viewing platform. Here, you can see 360-degree views of the city and the Alps sparkling in the distance. Make sure you go on a clear day!

The Mole Antonelliana sits on a square base, where the entry and cinema museum are housed.

You can buy a combined ticket for the Turin Cinema Museum and the Panoramic Lift. Especially if you’re interested in the history of filmmaking or Italian films, the museum is worth an hour or two of your time.

The exhibits begin with gadgets that pre-date films, like shadow puppets, magic lanterns, and zoetropes. There are film sets to explore, movie posters, photographs, and film clips to admire and lots of masks, costumes, and other memorabilia.

The collection is so big that true film nerds will need a whole afternoon to explore. For the rest of us, an hour or so is plenty, especially if the sun is shining.

If you come in the afternoon, after a long day of sightseeing, you can take a welcome rest in the reclined seats of the museum’s main hall to watch whatever movies are showing that day.

The Mole is beautiful to look at from any angle and any time of day.

Museum of Cinema and Panoramic Lift Hours

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun: 9am–8pm

Sat: 9am–11pm

Tue: closed

Final admission one hour before closing time.

Museum of Cinema and Panoramic Lift Prices

€11 for museum only

€8 for lift only

€15 for both

Free for kids 5 and under, €2 concession for people 6–26, free for people with disabilities and accompanying person.

The view from the top of the Mole is spectacular, especially on a clear day.

The Cupola Ascent Tour

This is a guided tour walking up to the Panoramic Terrace. Without an appointment, it’s only available in Italian, but if you have a group, you can book an English tour.

Tour times without reservation: 12:30pm and 4:30pm

€10 / €180 per group of up to 15 people

Private 3-Hour Turin and Mole Tour

Explore the city’s main squares and palaces with a private guide, who will give you insight into the culture and history of Turin. Then, with the guide, skip the line at the Mole and discover the true delights of the tower and the cinema museum.

Book ahead online →

Turin city guide for our picks of the best things to do, see, eat, and drink in the city!

These are our favourite tools and companies for planning and booking your s in Europe. We have used all of them and recommend them for their dedication to providing you great experiences.

Best gear: Minimalist Packing Guide →

Cheap flights: Kiwi.com →

Hotel savings: Booking.com →

Small group adventures: Intrepid Travel →

Tours, tickets & transfers: Get Your Guide →

Mindful journeys: BookYogaRetreats & BookMeditationRetreats →

Convenient insurance: World Nomads →

We hope our guide to visiting the Mole Antonelliana in Torino helps when you’re planning your trip. A ride on the Panoramic Lift is a must-do on your first visit to Turin and if you have time and are a history buff, make sure to stop inside the Cinema Museum, too.

♥  Happy mindful adventures, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

Pin this for later! Image by SilvanoCosta from Pixabay