In 1942-1943, the Villa Torlonia estate in Rome was built with secret underground bunkers to protect Benito Mussolini and his family from Allied bombing during World War II. Over 80 years later, these dramatic shelters have been renovated and are now open to the public for viewing.
Villa Torlonia’s secret bunkers were strategically built in three underground structures, including a wine cellar under the villa’s lake, an underground basement bunker in the Casino Nobile building, and an armored bunker located 20 feet beneath the Casino Nobile. The structures were heavily fortified with four feet of reinforced concrete, anti-gas doors, and an air purification system.
The first bunker was constructed in 1940 in Mussolini’s wine cellar under the Villa’s Lake. The second structure was an underground basement bunker in the Casino Nobile building on the property. These structures were heavily fortified with four feet of reinforced concrete, anti-gas doors, and an air purification system. The third structure was an armored bunker located 20 feet beneath the Casino Nobile. The bunkers were built in a cross shape, with 50-foot-long corridors and 13-foot reinforced concrete walls.
Construction began in December 1942 but was left unfinished when Mussolini was arrested on July 25, 1943. The bunker lacked crucial features such as watertight doors, final ventilation systems, and toilets. Today, visitors can explore the bunkers and experience simulated overhead bombings through an immersive audio-visual display at ‘Rifugio e il Bunker.’ The site offers archive images of Mussolini and his family at the villa, along with footage of the aftermath of Allied bombings in Rome.
Visitors can view ‘Rifugio e il Bunker’ as part of a guided tour of the Villa Torlonia Museum and is open for individual tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available online through the Museo Villa Torlonia website or can be purchased in person at ticket offices located in Casino Nobile building.
Overall, visitors can learn about Mussolini’s time spent at Villa Torlonia while also experiencing a glimpse into what life would have been like for him during WWII if he had been able to complete his secret project.
