Museo Nazionale della Montagna “Duca degli Abruzzi”
Museum of the Club Alpino Italiano on the Monte dei Cappuccini in Turin, dedicated to the history of mountaineering, with a panoramic terrace over the Alps.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum was born on the Monte dei Cappuccini, the hill that overlooks Turin on the right bank of the Po. On 9 August 1874 the City of Turin, in agreement with the Turin section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), had a small pavilion built there with a telescope to admire the panorama of the Alps, from Monviso to Monte Rosa. In 1901 Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of the Abruzzi, donated to the section the finds from his expedition to the North Pole.
The collections grew over time and the structure expanded: in 2003 the Area Documentazione was created, and in 2005, after renovation and a new display, the Area Espositiva and the Area Incontri opened, so that the museum today consists of three complementary areas.
The permanent route tells the story of mountaineering from its origins to the 20th century, from the founding of the CAI and the relationship between mountains and science to winter mountaineering, up to Walter Bonatti. It also includes temporary exhibitions and the Vedetta Alpina, the panoramic terrace. The museum also holds a photographic library, a film library, mountaineering archives and the CAI National Library.
It is run by the Club Alpino Italiano – Sezione di Torino and is a founding member of the International Mountain Museums Alliance.
Highlights
- Permanent collection on the history of mountaineering
- Section dedicated to Walter Bonatti
- Vedetta Alpina, panoramic terrace over Turin and the Alps
- Finds from the Duke of the Abruzzi's North Pole expedition
- Temporary exhibitions and 3D exhibitions
- Photographic library, film library and mountaineering archives
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione permanente – Route over several floors devoted to the CAI, science and mountaineering, winter mountaineering and Walter Bonatti, with the Vedetta Alpina terrace.
- Founded
- 1874
- Operated by
- Club Alpino Italiano – Sezione di Torino
- Visitors per year
- approx. 64,090
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Groups of at least 15 people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 9 · Free admission for children under 10. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7 per personGroup visits must be booked in advance; the reduced rate applies from a group of 15 people. |
| Panoramic terrace only | €3Special ticket for the terrace. |
| CAI members | €6 |
The ticket includes the permanent collection, the temporary exhibitions on display and access to the panoramic terrace. Free with the Abbonamento Musei (Piedmont) and the Torino+Piemonte Card.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
All levels of the museum and the Area Documentazione can be reached by lift; people with mobility difficulties are advised to drive as far as the piazzale. The Area Incontri can only be reached by internal stairs. Guide dogs, therapy dogs and small dogs in a carrier are admitted.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 9 |
Children under 10 enter free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gran Madre · 10-min walk
From Porta Susa station take tram 13 or bus 56 to Borgo Po / Piazza Gran Madre, then about 10 minutes on foot. GTT stops: 1817 Gran Madre (Corso Casale), 1952 Crimea (Corso Fiume), 2018 Gioannetti (Corso Moncalieri). From Porta Nuova station about 30 minutes on foot.
By car
Parking available
Limited spaces in Piazzale Monte dei Cappuccini; car park Vittorio Park in Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
The museum is not inside the ZTL. On foot: 10 minutes from Piazza Gran Madre, 15 minutes from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 25 minutes from the Arco monumentale in the Parco del Valentino (uphill route); also reachable by bicycle.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
Beneath the museum is the Monte dei Cappuccini restaurant-bar (access from the Cortile Olimpico, Salita al CAI Torino 12); the bar is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00. Food and drink are not allowed inside the museum, nor large bags or rucksacks.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The site organises events (Area Incontri).
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Photography | Photography is permitted unless otherwise indicated, without tripods; for commercial use, please contact the museum. |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group visits must be booked in advance. The museum is best reached on foot through the Bosco al Monte dei Cappuccini; the difference in height is about 100 metres. |
