In northern Italy, an expansive nuclear bunker built to withstand atomic chaos is set to become a Cold War museum. The site, once a NATO command post and now a labyrinth of 100 rooms connected by over half-a-mile of tunnels, will soon offer tours. As part of the transformation, the University of Florence conducted a comprehensive study in 2022.

The bunker's interior is a mix of military necessity and human comfort—complete with a gym, bar, and remnants of erotic posters from its former inhabitants. After Italy’s defence ministry transferred ownership to Affi town in 2018, the municipality received €7 million for renovations by 2029.

Marco Sega, the mayor of Affi, sees this as 'a historic moment'—an opportunity to bring the Cold War era back into public consciousness. Professor Michelangelo Pivetta hopes it will spark discussions about a time not often revisited: 'It is an opportunity to start speaking again about the Cold War—which is not spoken about enough today—in a historical sense.'

The museum’s grand opening, with parts already accessible in 2024, aims to provide a tangible experience of Cold War paranoia. It's not just a story of defence preparedness but also a reminder of what could have been—or perhaps should never have happened.