Memorial Museum of Liberty, Bologna
The Memorial Museum of Liberty (Museo Memoriale della Libertà) is dedicated to the events of the Second World War. It is the real guide to the campaign for the liberation of Italy, especially to military events that took place in Bologna. The central place is occupied by the reconstruction of events related to the creation and breakthrough of the Gothic Line.
History and events
The museum was founded in 2000 by the Ansaloni family and is still owned by them. Personal memories, the material and documental heritage of the family, in fact, was the base collection of the museum. Thanks to the exhibition, visitors, as the founders intended, were to understand all the vicissitudes of the World War II, and especially the events in Bologna and during the Gothic Line. The latter was a defensive structure of the German troops, which the Allied army could not defeat for 7 months.
Museum exhibition
The museum itself is a big reconstruction and consists of two parts: a memorial and an open-air one. The memorial is located indoors, and the main tour goes through it. It consists of 5 multimedia sections, accompanied by audiovisual effects, completely recreating scenes from various military events of that time. The exhibition route is gradual and consists of dioramas. The latter were made using extremely realistic dummies, elaborate cinematic technologies and special effects (such as vibrating floor that simulates bombarding or smoke from grenades), and audiovisual effects. They are meant to ensure that the visitor is completely immersed in the heavy wartime atmosphere. Guests will encounter five reconstructions of different events:
- Recruitment. The selection of the civilians organization "Todt" to construct fortifications of the Gothic line.
- Bomb shelter. It was recreated using Edo Ansaloni’s diary.
- Bombing. Destruction in the city caused by the bombings. And the catastrophic effect of war on the homes and daily lives of civilians is demonstrated here.
- Battle of Porta Lame. Reconstruction of the struggle of partisan divisions and their fight with German troops for the Bologna’s city gates.
- Tenth Division. The famous climb of Riva Ridge after which in February 1945 the breakthrough of the Gothic Line happened.
The open-air part will surprise the visitor with an exhibition of quite rare military equipment from the Second World War. It includes 50 vehicles of both allies, Italy and Germany, and a small collection of artillery guns. The place also owns such interesting exhibits: light twin-engine aircraft Piaggio P166M, American medium tank M4 "Sherman", and an armored wagon used to transport people to concentration camps. The latter has the exhibition related to it. The museum tour ends with the screening of the film called “Bologna Combat” shot by a young director Edo Ansaloni on April 21, 1945.
How to get
The museum is located on the eastern outskirts of Bologna, on Via Giuseppe Dozza, 24. The Monument to the Fallen can be found a little to the east from here, in the suburbs. The closest bus stop, Villaggio Due Madonne, is 10 minutes away from the museum. It can be reached by buses № 19, 94, 101, 106, 916, 918.
Opening hours: visit must be arranged in advance with the secretary office which is open from 10:30 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:30. Closed on weekends and holidays. Contact number for inquiries and booking: (+39) 051 461100.
Admission: a full ticket costs 5 euros, a reduced one (for senior citizens over 65, groups of 15 people) – 4 euros. The information about admission and opening hours may be changed.
