In a country where military heritage is not often celebrated, Base Tuono stands out as a refreshing and unique presence in the Italian museum landscape. What began as the vision of a few individuals has evolved into a remarkable military museum that continues to expand its offerings while staying true to its original mission. Located on one of the former Nike Hercules SAM bases in the alpine foothills of northeastern Italy, Base Tuono (which translates to “Lightning Base” in Italian) has recreated much of the atmosphere and appearance that the site would have had during its operational years. We had the opportunity to visit the base in 2019 and published an article about our experience.
The Comune of Folgaria acquired Base Tuono in 2010 and, with the support of the Autonomous Province of Trento and in collaboration with the Italian Air Force, transformed it into a museum. Since then, the museum has been educating the public about Italy’s Cold War defense history in partnership with NATO. The base also hosts numerous organized student visits throughout the school year. Situated in a stunning mountainous setting at roughly 4,200 feet above sea level in the northeastern Alps, it is about an hour’s drive from the town of Trento. After years of neglect, museum staff have restored one section of the base using original materials, including three deactivated Nike Hercules missiles and associated radar equipment, offering visitors a vivid impression of what the base was like during its active years. As a result, Base Tuono has become one of Italy’s finest examples of “living history.”
Since its opening, the museum has continuously added new exhibits and restored equipment to its former glory. Highlights include the addition of an F-104 Starfighter (we covered this in a previous article), the restoration of radars and other equipment to full functionality, and the recent inauguration of a photographic exhibit featuring the work of aviation photographer Luigino Caliaro.
Base Tuono truly “does it right,” serving as a model of Living History by offering a variety of activities to keep visitors engaged. Tour guides are available daily, providing narration in multiple languages, and the museum also hosts events outside its walls, including food and wine tastings, car shows, and, starting this summer, a spectacular light show that creates a truly unique atmosphere.
Today, few remnants of the Nike Hercules missile system’s infrastructure remain anywhere in the world. However, Base Tuono has successfully recreated much of the appearance and ambiance of the base during its operational years. We look forward to providing further updates on this important historical museum in the future. For more information about the museum, please visit www.basetuono.it.
