Pinacoteca Agnelli is a small art museum with an extraordinary setting: the rooftop of Turin’s former Fiat factory at Lingotto. Renzo Piano designed its glass-and-steel gallery, known as the scrigno or jewel box, as part of the factory’s transformation into a complex of shops, offices and cultural spaces.
The permanent collection was assembled by Gianni and Marella Agnelli and rewards a slow look rather than a marathon visit. Its carefully chosen works range from Canaletto’s Venetian views and a Canova sculpture to paintings by Manet, Renoir, Matisse and Picasso. Temporary exhibitions add a contemporary perspective to the historic industrial setting.
Allow time for the rooftop test track, where Fiat once put newly assembled cars through their paces. Now a landscaped walkway, it offers broad views over Turin and, on clear days, the Alps. Film fans may recognise the roof from the 1969 film The Italian Job.
The museum is south of central Turin, a short walk from Lingotto metro station. Plan on an hour or two for the galleries, plus extra time for the rooftop, and check the official website for current opening hours and what each ticket includes. A clear day is best for the views.