Air raid siren of Teramo, Civil defense alarm in cathedral tower of Teramo, Italy.
The Air raid siren of Teramo is a mechanical warning device mounted at the top of the cathedral bell tower, from where it broadcast signals across the entire city. The system operated using wind pressure and reached far enough to be heard throughout the urban area.
The siren was installed in 1937 to warn residents of air attacks and played a crucial role during World War II. After decades of service, it was removed in 2011, restored, and successfully tested again in 2013.
The siren served as a familiar sound in residents' daily lives, linking them to a shared experience of danger during wartime. It remains a tangible reminder of how communities faced and lived through collective threats.
The siren sits on the cathedral tower, so you can view it by visiting the cathedral area and looking up from the street. The best view comes from the street level or nearby squares where the tower is visible.
The device kept its original mechanical components for 67 years before being removed, which speaks to the solid engineering of that era. The restoration and retesting proved that the original designers had created a remarkably durable system.
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