Alessandro Antonelli
Ghemme 14/07/1798 - Turin 18/10/1888
Antonelli studied in Milan and Turin; at Turin’s Accademia Albertina he won a scholarship to go to Rome to take courses in architecture and engineering.
After returning to Piedmont, he started experimenting new building solutions with extensive use of iron and prepared a new urban plan of Turin, which was never implemented but is still appreciated for its functionality and modernity compared to the canons of his day.
From 1836 to 1857 he was professor at the Accademia Albertina and at the same time he started a political career and became member of the Subalpine Parliament, municipal councillor in Turin and provincial councillor in Novara.
His more famous works include the dome of the Basilica of San Gaudenzio in Novara (1887), the Sanctuary of the Crucifix of Boca, the Villa Caccia of Romagnano Sesia and, in Turin, in addition to various mansion houses, the Scaccabarozzi Home and, above all, the Mole Antonelliana, today’s architectural symbol of the city.
