Kleine Berlin is the Italian pejorative for the area of Trieste where German soldiers were worked and lived during World War II.
Kleine Berlin also refers to the air raid tunnels used by soldiers and civilians during Allied bombing raids, opened to the public thanks to the efforts of volunteers from the Club Alpinistico Triestino. The club gives monthly tours by guides who are dedicated to preserving this important site through fund raising and public awareness.
Tunnels for German soldiers on the left; tunnels for Italian citizens on the right. Notice any differences?
The guide desperately wanted to impress on us how German tunnels were dry and well-maintained while civilian tunnels were cold, dank, damp. More than 1000 Italians could be crammed in when taking refuge, while the numerically fewer Germans lived more comfortably (at least to some extent). Though fighting on the same side until late 1943, the Germans apparently lorded their superiority over the Italians. Nice guys!
The P, I, and U.S. directed fire fighters and first responders by identifying air raid bunkers or water pipes or whatever. Unfortunately I don’t remember the specifics. Sorry!
Their most prized artifact is the wing from a US bomber recovered from the Adriatic which crashed and sunk during an air raid on Trieste. The numbers on the plane’s wing helped to identify the aircraft and its crew members killed. One airman assigned to the fallen plane swapped with someone else and ultimately survived and lived until dying of age.
The room in which the wing is displayed contains many pictures and placards about Allied aircraft, Trieste bombing raids, important military sites, etc., but had no real opportunity to read everything (anything).
Final Thoughts
Interesting yet disappointing.
The volunteers have obviously worked hard to make Kleine Berlin a worth-while visit through research, artifact collection, pictures, descriptive placards; unfortunately, local safety regulations limit visits to 60 minutes, insufficient to immerse yourself in the material. Our guide led us to a spot, explains and describes, asks for questions, and moves on, leaving no opportunity for closer looks.
The volunteers themselves are polite, knowledgeable, dedicated – and, thankfully, our guide spoke excellent English – but I do question how much longer this historical World War II site will remain publicly accessible. Recent tunnel flooding limits access to parts of tunnels and may indicate larger structural problems, likely requiring governmental intervention and collaboration to avoid permanent damage and loss.
Logistics
Address: Across street from 11 via Fabio Severo, 34134 Trieste, Italy
Website: https://www.discover-trieste.it/live/art-and-culture/museums/kleine-berlin
Open: Last Friday of the month @ 5:30pm and 8:00pm; reservation mandatory. Large groups can contact the organizers to schedule other times.
Ticket Cost: 5€ per person, cash only
Child Friendly: No. Tour leader speaks and explains the various exhibits, nothing interactive, colorful, etc.
Language: English and Italian guides available.
Length of Visit: 60 minutes
Image Credits
- All images © 2026 Scott C Sosna, all rights reserved
