HISTORICAL MEMORY | IMMERSIVE PATH | INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE

HISTORICAL MEMORY | INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE

Live Memory:
An Immersive Path
in the History of La Spezia

Live Memory:
An Immersive Path
in the History of La Spezia

Immerse yourself in the history of La Spezia: discover the collective memory of the Second World War bombings in an immersive multimedia tour in the Quintino Sella Anti-Bomb Shelter. Memory, technology and culture come together in an experience of resilience and peace.

Via dei Mille | Patrone shop

The history of
the bombing of La Spezia

Discover the collective memory of the World War II bombings through the multimedia historical re-enactment route set up in the Ex-Bomb Shelter Quintino Sella, returned to the community in 2023. The shelter today offers immersive and visual experiences, evocative sounds of the era, a project to convey awareness and a universal message of peace.

About

The history of
bomb shelter

Built in 1942 as a tunnel for a lift between Via XX Settembre and Via XXVII Marzo, the space was converted into an air raid shelter during World War II, offering protection to thousands of La Spezia residents during the bombing raids of 1943. At 500 metres long and 6 metres wide, it became a symbol of civil resilience, accommodating up to 6,500 people. Today, this historic site has been recovered and transformed into a multimedia route, part of the “La Spezia Forte” project, which aims to enhance the city’s cultural heritage.

The project

The project, promoted by the Associazione Senza Tempo, was created with the aim of preserving historical memory and offering an educational and engaging experience. The primary objective is to preserve collective memory through an itinerary that combines tradition and innovation. The multimedia route, enriched by immersive installations, offers an exciting and educational journey, with the aim of raising awareness among the new generations and keeping historical memory alive. Period photographs, original documents and historical exhibits allow visitors to immerse themselves in the past and understand the events that marked the city and its community.

The project collaborates with cultural institutions and specialised technicians to integrate:

VR e Video Mapping

Virtual Reality and Video Mapping,
to reconstruct events and atmospheres of the past.

Avatar U.N.P.A.

An interactive avatar
of Anti-Aircraft Protection (U.N.P.A.),
designed to dialogue with visitors.

Expositions

Exhibitions enriched by contributions
from local communities and associations.

The Gallery Route

The exhibition offers an immersive experience, designed to make visitors relive the crucial moments of the Second World War through modern installations and historical insights. Each section is designed to stimulate curiosity and offer an in-depth understanding of the events and daily life of the era.

Exposition
Temporary | Until June 2025
SPezia: 80 Years since a Historic Victory

Hosted until mid-June, it celebrates Spezia's triumph in the 1944 championship with a team made up of firemen, in an Italy scarred by war.

Exposition
On schedule | From September 2025
Educational workshops

From September 2025, educational workshops for schools and families will be run in partnership with historians and educators.

Interactive Experience
Avatar U.N.P.A.

Interact with a virtual volunteer of the U.N.P.A. (U.N.P.A.), guided by artificial intelligence, to discover stories of organisation and solidarity during the emergency.

Immersive Experience
Video Mapping

The vault of the gallery is transformed into a stage of light and sound, with projections recreating air-raid alarms, voices of the population and moments of everyday life.

Immersive Experience
Virtual Reality

Relive the bombing of 13-14 April 1943 through dedicated viewers, with reconstructions based on archive documents and testimonies.

Exposition
Permanent
Vintage objects

Exhibition of objects related to the gallery of the time.

Audiovisual Experience
18 April: The bombing

A set design enhanced by a play of light leads the visitor to an emotional experience through original audiovisual content that evokes the dramatic moments of the bombing.

Visit duration | 60 minutes

Donate a memory

Do you have photos or objects related to the history of La Spezia? Contribute to our exhibitions!
Write to our collective memory.

Tickets

full

5,00 €

REDUCED

3,00 €

(5 – 14 years / Over 65 local)

FREE

0 – 5 years / tour guides / teachers / persons with disabilities and accompanying persons / journalists.