New photos of one of Benito Mussolini’s secret underground war bunkers have surfaced as Rome celebrates the 40th anniversary of the end of fascism and as the bunker opens for visitors. One of 12 bunkers eventually built in Rome for Mussolini, this shelter was built in 1940 because Mussolini feared Allied forces would attempt to assassinate him. He was right—the British Royal Air Force did plan an attack on Mussolini in 1943, though this plan was not carried out.
The 180-foot-long concrete bunker is located ten feet below Villa Torlonia (pictured above) in Rome, where Mussolini lived from 1925 until 1943. It was converted from a former wine cellar and contained gas masks, a fortified bolthole for easy access, and three escape routes. The bunker is connected to a second previously unknown bunker and an anti-gas chamber.
Most of Mussolini’s air raid shelters have not been entered since World War II ended, so the opening of this shelter is a rare glimpse at a preserved piece of fascism in Italy. Villa Torlonia started offering guided tours of the bunker on October 31st; visitors can make reservations at www.museivillatorlonia.it. You can watch video of the bunker here.
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Photo by zakmc, flickr.com
