When Italy officially entered World War II in 1940, the country’s fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, set out to build a bunker beneath his Rome home, Villa Torlonia. The gas and bomb-proof bunker bunker was meant to provide shelter for Mussolini and his family in case of need. Now, this bunker is re-opened for the public once again.
Visitors can tour the bunker of Villa Torlonia and check out its tunnels and rooms while also taking part in the immersive experience that mimics the attack of Allied forces through the sounds of gunfire and bombs. The tour includes a video showing how it would look like if the bunker was used for its original purpose.
Mussolini’s bunker was originally opened to the public in 2006 and was operating for two years as a tourist attraction. However, the bunker was mostly closed since then, with tours being organized on an occasional basis.
Villa Torlonia was constructed in the early 19th century and belonged to the Italian princely Torlonia family. Mussolini moved into the villa in the 1920s and used it for almost two decades as a residence. It was abandoned and left to ruin after World War II ended before the Municipality of Rome acquired it in 1977.