Located in the center of the city of Porto Torres, with an entrance from Libio Street and Sassari Street, opens one of the best-preserved air raid shelters in the city. During the middle of World War II, around 1942, the Italian state, fearing an Allied landing, reinforced Sardinia with numerous military posts, located mainly along the coast. Porto Torres, thanks to one of the largest ports in northern Sardinia, turned out to be a sensitive target. Thus it was that the military engineer prepared a containment arc consisting of fortified defense groups and a series of coastal observation posts. A number of air raid shelters were also built for the protection of civilians in the most populated parts of the city, such as the market and schools. These were built from a large central corridor with several branches leading to underground living quarters, infirmaries, and blanket and food stores in case of prolonged shelling. During the early years of the war the shelters were used quite infrequently until, in May 1943, by the British air force, the city was rocked by the largest bombing raid in its history, known as the “Palm Day Bombardment,” which resulted in the destruction of three large cargo ships moored in the harbor. These were also completely sunk with the help of a submarine which was followed by the destruction of some buildings in the central areas of the city. The importance of shelters for the protection of civilians was also realized at that time as a result of the lack of adequate anti-aircraft fire. The shelter on Libio Street/Sassari Street has multiple entrances to allow the population easy access from different points and is almost completely lined with white limestone bricks. The building consists of a corridor about three meters wide with an arched vault, a semi-curve and two rooms for probably medical and pantry use. The lodge has recently been restored.
