Unearthing the Past: A Tour of Mussolini’s Secret Hideaways at Villa Torlonia

Built in 1942 and 1943, the secret underground bunkers at Villa Torlonia were designed to protect Benito Mussolini and his family from Allied bombing during World War II. Over 80 years later, these dramatic structures have been renovated and are now open to the public for viewing.

Located beneath Mussolini’s grand estate in Rome, Villa Torlonia, the bunkers were strategically built in three underground structures. The first bunker was constructed in 1940 in Mussolini’s wine cellar under the Villa’s Lake, followed by 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.

As the war progressed, Mussolini added an armored bunker located 20 feet underground in front of 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 the bunker was left incomplete when Mussolini was arrested on July 25, 1943, lacking 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. 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 also learn about how these secret hideaways played a crucial role during one of Europe’s most tumultuous periods through guided tours led by experts.

The ‘Rifugio e il Bunker’ can be visited as part of a guided tour of the Villa Torlonia Museum and is open for individual tours