Villa Schneider, Art Nouveau villa in Biella, Italy
Villa Schneider is a turn-of-the-century villa located at Piazza Lamarmora in Biella, near the historic center at the intersection of Via Micca and Via Gramsci. The interior now displays a permanent exhibition featuring historical documents and wartime testimonies that visitors can explore through guided tours.
After the armistice of September 8, 1943, German and Italian forces seized the villa and converted it into military police headquarters and an interrogation center. This military use became central to the building's role in the city's wartime history.
The building now houses the office of the National Association of Italian Partisans and regularly serves as a venue for World War II remembrance gatherings. Visitors can sense how this place has become part of the local memory and the city's way of honoring the past.
Visitors can arrange guided tours with ANPI volunteers to see the permanent exhibition of historical documents and wartime testimonies. It is best to plan your visit in advance and check opening times, as tours are conducted by appointment.
Radio Baita broadcast Nazi propaganda from the upper floor while resistance fighters simultaneously responded through Radio Libertà. This unusual coexistence of opposing radio stations during the occupation makes the place a rare symbol of the conflict that unfolded there.
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