King of Morocco funds €17M mosque with student housing in Turin

While a similar project in Milan was shelved to avoid controversy, Turin will indeed have its minaret. In the Aurora district on Via Bologna, a 20-meter modernized mosque will become the city's first officially recognized mosque. After years of praying in garages and unauthorized spaces, Muslim worshippers will finally have a mosque that meets urban planning regulations.

Now that the long approval process is complete, the former Nebiolo factory will be transformed into an architectural complex blending contemporary design with multiple functions: a mosque with a capacity of 1,000 worshippers, a student residence, a library, and an exhibition space.

Following the Great Mosque of Rome, Turin’s mosque could become Italy’s second officially recognized mosque. The project is led by the Italian Islamic Confederation, which already manages a place of worship on Via Genova. It is the result of work initiated during Mayor Piero Fassino’s term, later finalized after resolving urban planning challenges.

The final permits have now been signed, and the Soprintendenza (Italy’s architectural heritage authority) has given its approval. The only remaining step is securing funding for construction. Designed by Vittorio Jacomussi, the architect behind the Algerian pavilion at the Milan World Expo, the project covers 6,000 m², incorporating both new structures and renovated buildings.

The total cost is estimated at €17 million, with €8 million reportedly pledged by the King of Morocco. A decade ago, a similar initiative was planned in District 7 on Via Pesaro but never materialized. This time, however, the project appears to be on the right track.