A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic cell, in particular for building integrated photovoltaic applications, comprising the steps of: - moulding a tile of glass by pressure moulding of molten glass, providing directly in the moulding step a first face and a second face, opposite to the first face, of the tile, and providing both of said opposite faces (6, 7) with respective series of projections defining light orientation patterns for confining the light incident on a first face inside the tile and avoiding or limiting light leaving through the faces (6, 7), due to multiple total reflections; the projections being essentially prismatic ridges and extending longitudinally along respective straight axes that are parallel to each other and to a central plane of the tile and, in use, are substantially horizontal; the projections of each face (6, 7) being arranged parallel to each other with a set pitch; each projection having a pair of lateral sides converging to a free extremity or apex that consists of an edge; the projections being V-shaped and having a substantially triangular cross-section; the tile being a monolithic piece made of moulded glass obtained by pressure moulding of molten glass in a mould having two opposite moulding faces shaped to make said faces (6, 7) respectively, both the faces (6, 7) being made in the desired shape and provided with said projections directly in the moulding step, a mould having two opposite moulding faces shaped to make the respective faces (6, 7) being used; and - depositing on said second face of the tile, opposite to the first face, an active structure capable of converting light energy into electrical energy by photovoltaic effect. - moulding a tile of glass by pressure moulding of molten glass, providing directly in the moulding step a first face and a second face, opposite to the first face, of the tile, and providing both of said opposite faces (6, 7) with respective series of projections defining light orientation patterns for confining the light incident on a first face inside the tile and avoiding or limiting light leaving through the faces (6, 7), due to multiple total reflections; the projections being essentially prismatic ridges and extending longitudinally along respective straight axes that are parallel to each other and to a central plane of the tile and, in use, are substantially horizontal; the projections of each face (6, 7) being arranged parallel to each other with a set pitch; each projection having a pair of lateral sides converging to a free extremity or apex that consists of an edge; the projections being V-shaped and having a substantially triangular cross-section; the tile being a monolithic piece made of moulded glass obtained by pressure moulding of molten glass in a mould having two opposite moulding faces shaped to make said faces (6, 7) respectively, both the faces (6, 7) being made in the desired shape and provided with said projections directly in the moulding step, a mould having two opposite moulding faces shaped to make the respective faces (6, 7) being used; and - depositing on said second face of the tile, opposite to the first face, an active structure capable of converting light energy into electrical energy by photovoltaic effect.