Faro della Vittoria

Faro della Vittoria is a monumental lighthouse-statue standing on the Colle della Maddalena hill in Turin, within the grounds of the Parco della Rimembranza. It combines a working navigational light with one of the city's most striking commemorative monuments.

What exactly is it?

The structure is a bronze figure of the Winged Victory, created by Turin sculptor Edoardo Rubino. The statue weighs 25 tonnes and stands 18.5 metres tall, resting on a stone pedestal that adds a further 8 metres of height. The lighthouse optics are housed inside the torch held aloft in the figure's hands, so the beam of light shines out from the flame itself and is visible after dark from much of Turin.

The monument was erected in 1928 at the initiative of senator Giovanni Agnelli, who commissioned it and donated it to the city to mark the tenth anniversary of Italy's World War I victory over Austria and Germany. Since then, the Faro della Vittoria has become one of the most recognisable landmarks on the hills overlooking Turin.

How do you get there?

Colle della Maddalena rises on the eastern edge of Turin, across the Po river from the city centre. The hill is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists: the Parco della Rimembranza that covers it is wooded and crossed by paths that climb steadily toward the summit, where the monument stands.

What will you see on site?

At the top of the hill there is a gravel esplanade offering a wide panorama of the Western Alps. Next to the statue stands a granite orientation table topped with a brass plate marking the compass rose and pointing out the direction of the main Alpine peaks visible on clear days — a good spot to linger and pick out individual summits on the horizon.

The monument itself is best appreciated up close: only standing directly at its base gives a real sense of the scale of both the statue and the pedestal beneath it.

When should you visit?

The lighthouse is most striking after dark, when the beam from the Victory's torch lights up the hill and can be seen from many parts of the city. During the day, a clear day is the best time to come, since the Alpine panorama is sharpest then and the orientation table makes it easy to identify individual peaks. The monument underwent a full restoration in 2013, which returned both the statue and its lighting mechanism to good condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Faro della Vittoria depict? It depicts the Winged Victory, a bronze statue by Edoardo Rubino, holding a torch that houses the optics of a working lighthouse.

Who funded the monument and why was it built? It was commissioned and donated to Turin by senator Giovanni Agnelli to mark the tenth anniversary of Italy's World War I victory over Austria and Germany.

Can you see the Alps from the Faro della Vittoria? Yes — the esplanade at the top of the hill offers a panorama of the Western Alps, and a granite orientation table with a brass plate helps identify the direction of individual peaks.

When is the best time to see the lighthouse lit up? After dark, when the beam from the statue's torch is visible from many points across Turin.