MAO Museo di Arte Orientale (Museum of Oriental Art), Turin

The MAO – Museo di Arte Orientale, or Museum of Oriental Art, is one of Turin’s most distinctive cultural institutions, dedicated entirely to the artistic traditions of Asia. Opened in 2008, it is housed in the 17th-century Palazzo Mazzonis, a restored noble residence in the city’s historic district. The museum was created to bring together collections long scattered across Turin’s civic museums, offering visitors a focused exploration of Asian civilizations and their visual cultures. Its setting in a baroque palace, carefully adapted for modern exhibitions, adds an atmospheric backdrop to the journey through centuries of artistic expression.

The museum is organized into five main galleries, each devoted to a specific geographical area: South Asia, China, Japan, the Himalayan regions, and Islamic countries of Asia. Together they display more than 1,500 works, ranging from sculptures and ritual objects to ceramics, textiles, and painted scrolls. Highlights include Indian stone carvings, delicate Japanese prints, Tibetan thangkas, and refined Islamic ceramics, each carefully presented to convey both their aesthetic qualities and cultural significance. Temporary exhibitions and rotating displays further enrich the experience, ensuring repeat visits reveal new perspectives.

Beyond its collections, the MAO functions as a cultural hub, hosting lectures, performances, and educational workshops that explore Asia’s diverse traditions. The museum’s courtyard and interiors preserve traces of the historic palazzo, blending Italian architectural heritage with the artistic spirit of the East. For tourists, the MAO offers an engaging contrast to Turin’s strong associations with Baroque art and the Savoy dynasty, inviting them to discover a global dimension within the city’s cultural landscape.