Civil War Shelters Museum, Civil war shelter museum in Cartagena, Spain

The Civil War Shelters Museum occupies an unfinished anti-aircraft tunnel excavated in the slope of Concepción Hill, entered from Gisbert Street. Its two rooms are divided into five spaces covering shelter typology, daily life during the war, passive and active defence, and the bombing of Cartagena, plus a Hall of Homage to Peace and temporary exhibitions.

These underground galleries were created during the war from 1936 to 1939 to protect civilians from aerial attacks. The tunnels were expanded as needed to shelter thousands of residents over the course of the conflict.

The museum displays photographs, documents, and personal items from residents who sheltered in these tunnels during attacks. These objects reveal how ordinary people experienced war in their city.

Visitors can explore the tunnels through organized tours available in multiple languages. The pathways through the galleries are adapted for people with mobility restrictions.

The shelter was left unfinished when Cartagena fell on 31 March 1939, one day before the war ended, yet it could still hold more than 5,000 people. Cartagena was the last Republican city occupied by Franco's troops and had endured between 40 and 117 bombardments, according to differing counts.