At a glance

Type

Underground museum of wartime history and civil defence

Period

Shelters constructed 1942–1943; museum established 21st century

Style

Reinforced concrete tunnels carved into the hill beneath the historic centre

Location

Como, Province of Como, Lombardy, Italy

Overview

The MuRAC shelters form part of a network of underground civilian refuges constructed under Como during the Second World War, when northern Italian cities feared Allied air raids targeting industrial infrastructure and rail links. Como’s shelters were among the most extensive built in the Lake District, capable of housing a large proportion of the urban population during alerts. Today the tunnels are a rare surviving example of Italian wartime civil engineering, carefully restored and equipped with period displays to communicate the atmosphere of life during the bombing campaigns of 1943–1945.

History

Construction of the Como air-raid shelter network began in 1942 as Italy intensified its civil defence programme following early Allied air attacks on northern cities. The tunnels were excavated through the hillside, reinforced with concrete, and fitted with ventilation shafts, latrines, and basic benches to shelter thousands of civilians. After the war the shelters were sealed and largely forgotten for decades, until local historians and civic associations lobbied for their conservation and transformation into a public memorial museum. MuRAC was inaugurated following restoration works that preserved the original structures while adding guided interpretation.

What you see

Visitors enter the tunnel system through a historic access point in the city centre and walk through several hundred metres of original shelter corridors. The temperature inside remains cool year-round, reflecting the wartime experience. Displays include original period artefacts — gas masks, provisions, medical equipment, radio sets — alongside photographs, documents, and audio-visual installations recreating the sounds of air-raid sirens and bombings. Guided tours explain the social history of civilian life under threat of bombardment and the organisation of Italy’s wartime civil defence corps.

Cultural significance

MuRAC fills an important gap in the public memory of Italy’s Second World War experience, offering a physical encounter with the fear and resilience of civilian populations far from the front line. As one of the few accessible and interpreted air-raid shelter complexes in northern Italy, it has become a significant resource for educational visits and historical research, contributing to broader European efforts to document and preserve 20th-century underground heritage.

Practical information

Address

Como, Lombardy, Italy — check official MuRAC website for exact entrance address

Opening hours

Visits by guided tour only; check the official MuRAC website for schedules and reservations

Admission

Ticketed; group and school rates available

Note

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer — underground temperature is consistently around 14–16 °C

Getting there

Como San Giovanni and Como Lago stations both serve the city from Milan (approx. 35–50 minutes depending on service). The museum entrance is in the historic centre, reachable on foot from either station. By car, Como is accessed via the A9 motorway; parking in the historic centre is limited and ZTL zones apply. Lake ferries from Bellagio, Varenna, and other lakeside towns dock at Como Lago, steps from the city centre.

Sources & resources

• MuRAC Como — official museum website for tours and booking
• Cultural Heritage Online — discover more Italian heritage sites