MAO Museo d'Arte Orientale
Asian art museum in Palazzo Mazzonis in Turin, with one of the largest Italian collections dedicated to Asia.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The MAO Museo d'Arte Orientale is housed in Palazzo Mazzonis, in the historic centre of Turin, and is run by the Fondazione Torino Musei. Opened in 2008, the museum presents collections of Asian art that its website describes as among the largest in Italy.
The permanent exhibition illustrates the different cultures of Asia through sculptures, paintings, objects of everyday use and decorative arts, and is accompanied by a programme of temporary exhibitions and residencies for contemporary artists, such as the project Declinazioni Contemporanee, which brings the collection into dialogue with new languages.
The MAO has launched an accessibility project funded by European funds, which includes a multilingual web app with videos in LIS and audio descriptions, tactile maps and 3D models. The museum also offers educational activities for schools, families and adults, and has an art library and a photographic archive.
Highlights
- Among the largest collections of Asian art in Italy
- Palazzo Mazzonis in the historic centre of Turin
- Multilingual web app with videos in LIS and audio descriptions
- Declinazioni Contemporanee programme with contemporary artists
- Educational activities for families with MiniMAO
Permanent exhibition
- Collezioni permanenti di arte asiatica – Route through the rooms of Palazzo Mazzonis devoted to the cultures of Asia.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- Fondazione Torino Musei
- Visitors per year
- approx. 119,108
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8visitors over 65, young people aged 19 to 25, members of bodies with agreements with the Fondazione Torino Musei, and groups of 20 to 25 people with booking |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission up to age 18. |
| Seniors | €8Over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for each person with a disability and their companion. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €8 per personBooking compulsory for groups of 10 people or more, with a booking fee of €9.50 per group or class; reduced admission for groups of 20 people. |
Prices refer to the permanent collections; they may vary during temporary exhibitions. Free admission on the first Tuesday of the month is temporarily suspended. The ticket office does not accept the Carta del Docente.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description
The main entrance is accessible to people with motor disabilities, with free loan of wheelchairs; the lift has Braille numbering, and on the ground floor a platform lift leads to the multipurpose hall. The museum's free web app contains videos in LIS and audio descriptions of the main works, as well as material in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Tactile maps and 3D models are planned by 2026.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The Educational Services organise visits and workshops for families; for the youngest there is the MiniMAO programme.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Porta Susa, Star2 bus; from Porta Nuova, buses 52 and 11 and tram 4. On foot, Porta Nuova is about 1.8 km away and Porta Susa about 1.3 km.
By car
Paid parking nearby: blue lines in the ZTL or underground car parks in piazza Castello, piazza Emanuele Filiberto, Santo Stefano near the Porte Palatine and piazza Albarello.
Palazzo Mazzonis is located in the historic centre; pay attention to the access restrictions in the adjacent areas.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours by reservation for groups, in Italian and in a foreign language (60 minutes: €75 per group; 90 minutes: €90; 120 minutes: €110; €5 extra for foreign languages). Free multilingual web app with themed routes. |
