2 – R.A.M. – MARTANA AIR RAID SHELTER (ENG)

Located in the city’s historic center, is the largest air raid shelter built in Massa, capable of accommodating thousands of people. It was constructed in a year of work, between 1942 and 1943, by venecian miners from Belluno. Following the evacuation order issued in September 1944 by the German military command, the shelter was occupied by Nazi troops, who stationed their soldiers there to guard the Gothic Line.

The shelter consists of a large 450-meter-long tunnel carved into the rock, featuring three entrances. Artificial openings in the ceiling of the tunnel served as ventilation shafts, ensuring a constant exchange of fresh air.

After the war, the shelter was closed for sixty years, only to be restored in 2006 for educational and historical purposes. Today, it is used for guided tours and cultural events. It hosted exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts, and book presentations.

Walking through the shelter’s cold and eerie galleries offers a unique opportunity to understand the population’s mindset during air raid alarms. Photographs and video interviews shown at the start of the tour provide a firsthand account of the experience of war from those who lived through it.

R.A.M. also hosts exhibitions and other cultural events.