Kleines Berlin, Underground air-raid shelter in Trieste, Italy
Kleines Berlin is an underground air-raid bunker system in Trieste with two distinct sections: civilian tunnels built by the municipality and military galleries constructed by German forces. The network reveals different construction approaches, with each section serving different purposes and built using separate methods.
The complex evolved from two phases: the municipality first built civilian shelters, then German forces took control in 1943 and expanded the facility for military purposes. German occupation left a lasting mark on the tunnels and made them a symbol of wartime control over the city.
The tunnel walls display original paintings from the 1940s that show how people tried to make their shelters more livable during air raids. These images reveal how residents coped with the daily threat and what mattered to them while underground.
Wear sturdy shoes since floor surfaces are uneven and can be slippery in places. Access requires good mobility and comfort with tight corridors and stairs.
A hidden tunnel connected an SS commander's private residence directly to his headquarters through a spiral staircase. This secret passage reveals how power was separated from ordinary spaces and hints at the comforts provided to top military leadership.
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