The Mole Antonelliana is the landmark of the Italian city of Turin. It was built in the second half of the 19th century by order and for account of the Jewish community, who wanted to use it as a synagogue. However, the ambitions of the architect Alessandro Antonielli to create a unique and masterly building let the expenses explode. Thirteen years after the commencement the estimated costs had been almost tripled and the building was still far from finished. In the end the Jewish community could not longer carry the expenses. The project was taken over by the city of Turin and eventually turned into a museum. At the time of its completion in 1888, the Mole was the highest walkable building in the world with a height of 167.5 meters (548 feet).