Fondazione Merz: Visiting Turin’s Contemporary Art Museum

Fondazione Merz is a contemporary art centre named after artist Mario Merz. Established in 2005, it hosts exhibitions, events and educational activities, and supports research into art.

The foundation occupies the former Officine Lancia power station, an industrial building from the 1930s owned by the City of Turin. Its setting in Borgo San Paolo connects Turin’s industrial history with a programme focused on modern and contemporary art.

If you’re planning a wider look at the city’s past, you can pair this visit with the Polo del ’900 guide to Turin’s history and civic museums. For a broader itinerary, see this practical route through Turin’s centre.

The programme alternates exhibitions devoted to Mario and Marisa Merz with site-specific projects by Italian and international artists. The foundation also presents regular temporary exhibitions, so what’s on view changes over time.

Beyond the exhibition spaces, the foundation has a library specialising in modern and contemporary art history and criticism. Its Merz Archive preserves documentation relating to Mario and Marisa Merz. The Mario Merz Prize, held every two years, covers visual art and music composition.

Rather than expecting a fixed display, check the current programme to see which exhibitions and events are running during your visit. The changing exhibitions are central to the foundation’s work, alongside its educational activities and support for research.

For a group visit, guided tours for non-school groups of 10–25 people cost €50 in Italian or €70 in a foreign language. School groups can choose a guided visit for €3 or a visit combined with a workshop for €5. Group tours can be arranged by reservation one week in advance and are available in Italian and English.

Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; the centre is closed on Monday. Full admission is €6–€10, and reduced admission is €3.50–€6. Free admission is available every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with other free-entry eligibility also applying. Check the official site before you go for current hours, prices and admission conditions.

Exhibition spaces and public services are accessible to visitors with limited mobility. You can request a wheelchair at the entrance ticket desk. Strollers and prams are allowed unless restrictions apply because of the works on view; a changing table is available, and ticket-desk staff can direct you to it.

Fondazione Merz is about a 24-minute walk from Hotel Tourist. Buses 55, 56 and 64, as well as tram 15, serve the area.

• Buses 55 and 56 stop at Robilant.
• Bus 64 stops at Caraglio.
• Tram 15 stops at Racconigi.

Check the route and service details for your travel time before setting out.

Start by checking which exhibitions are on view, then confirm the visitor information that matters for your plans, including opening hours, admission and any group arrangements. If you’re travelling with a group, allow time to make the required reservation in advance.

Fondazione Merz can sit alongside a history-focused museum visit or form part of a fuller day in Turin. Use the programme to decide how much time to set aside, then check current visitor details before setting out.