Kleine Berlin Trieste: the secret tunnel under the city
The Kleine Berlin Trieste is a fascinating underground labyrinth that stretches beneath the elegant streets of downtown. Few people know of its existence, yet these tunnels represent one of the most powerful and forgotten reminders of the city's recent history.
Excavated during World War II, the Kleine Berlin Trieste is a network of anti-aircraft tunnels built for one basic purpose: to protect the population from aerial bombardment. It is a “city within a city,” built partly by the City of Trieste for civilian use, and partly by German troops, who made it a strategic military shelter.
The name “Kleine Berlin”-in German Little Berlin-is not accidental. This dual nature, civilian and military, is what makes the entire complex so unique. While the civilian part housed those from Trieste seeking safety, the German part had separate electrical facilities, warehouses, archives and access. An architectural division that reflected the clear separation between daily life and the military apparatus.
Over time, the labyrinth has been largely forgotten, but a section has been recovered and can now be visited on special occasions. Guided tours allow visitors to explore the cold, damp corridors, admire the original writing on the walls, and feel the echo of a past that seems far away but is actually still there, beneath our feet.
The entrance is located near Fabio Severo Street. Accompanied by experienced guides, visitors can walk through part of Kleine Berlin Trieste, hearing true stories of those who found refuge, hope or military orders there. It is a journey through time, an intense and authentic experience that enriches the understanding of the city.
From a tourist point of view, this visit is an opportunity to discover a previously unseen face of Trieste, far from the classic itineraries. The city, already rich in Habsburg charm, literary cafes and glimpses of the sea, thus also reveals its most hidden and profound side.
If you love places that can tell authentic stories, the Kleine Berlin Trieste is worth a visit. Not only for what it represents historically, but for the evocative power it manages to convey even today, decades later.