Soratte Bunker

The Mount Soratte Tunnels, known as the “Soratte Bunker,” are an important work of military engineering. These underground structures, about 4 kilometers long, were excavated beginning in 1937 at the initiative of Benito Mussolini. The objective was to create a safe air raid shelter for the high ranks of the Italian Army in case of air attacks during World War II.

Construction work was started in 1937 under the direction of the Rome Army Corps of Engineers on Mussolini’s orders. The tunnels consisted of an intricate system of tunnels and underground passages on four different levels. The deepest level housed the air-raid shelter, equipped with all the necessary comforts to accommodate senior Italian Army officers for an extended period. The shallowest level contained the technical rooms, such as power plants and communication stations.

During World War II, in September 1943, the tunnels were first used during the Allied bombing raids on Rome. At that time, the bunker served as headquarters for the Supreme Southern Command, led by General Albert Kesselring. After the war, the tunnels were abandoned and remained in a state of disuse for several decades.

In the 1990s, the municipality of Sant’Oreste, where Mount Soratte is located, initiated a project to restore and recover the galleries, which was completed in 2004. Today, the Monte Soratte Galleries are open to the public and can be visited by reservation. The tour takes about an hour and a half and offers a unique opportunity to explore the history and structure of this significant military complex.

The Mount Soratte Tunnels represent an important symbol of Italian military history, recalling the country’s wartime events and demonstrating the skill of Italian military engineering during World War II. Today, thanks to the efforts of the Free Santorestese Cultural Association “Bunker Soratte,” these tunnels are open to visitors, offering tangible evidence of the past.