The Recoaro Terme bunkers are a complex of underground fortifications dating back to World War II.
One of the main ones is the Kesselring Command Bunker, also known as the Kommandobunker.
Located within the Central Springs complex of Recoaro Terme, from September 1944 to April 1945 it housed the Headquarters of Army Group C of the German Army.
These bunkers saved the German General Staff during the Allied bombing of Recoaro Terme on 20th April 1945.
On 22th April 1945, it was within these underground shelters that the Nazi generals, led by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, decided to begin negotiations for unconditional surrender, which led to the end of the conflict in Italy.
Recoaro Terme is a mountain town located near the Piccole Dolomiti, in the province of Vicenza.
Historically known as the “Queen of the Piccole Dolomiti,” the town is renowned for its mineral waters and its thermal baths.
The Terme di Recoaro spa was built in 1689 when Count Lelio Piovene discovered the beneficial properties of the area’s waters. Its heyday was during the Belle Époque, when it became a favorite destination for European aristocracy.
On 20th April 1945, the spa was bombed, marking the first critical moment before post-war reconstruction.
The 1960s and 1970s represented the golden age of the Terme di Recoaro spa, with numerous social events such as the Cantagiro and the historic Carosello advertising campaign.
The 1990s, however, marked a decade of profound change and decline for the Terme di Recoaro spa. Despite having been one of Europe’s most famous spa destinations, the hotels began to suffer drastic declines in occupancy, triggering a crisis that led to their closure and abandonment.
Today, the spas are the focus of enhancement and redevelopment projects to restore them to their former glory.
