Concealed beneath the limestone ridges of Monte Moscal overlooking the southern Garda morainic basin, the West Star Bunker in Affi represents the largest underground military command complex ever built in Italy, serving for decades as the secret strategic nerve center of NATO forces in Southern Europe.
Constructed between 1958 and 1960 during the height of the Cold War and continually upgraded until the 1980s, Bunker Site 04 was engineered to withstand direct nuclear, biological, and chemical strikes. Carved more than one hundred metres inside the solid rock of Monte Moscal, the bunker spans thirteen thousand square metres of fortified tunnels, command centres, and life-support infrastructure. During wartime alerts, it was designed to house up to five hundred officers and commanders of the Allied Land Forces Southern Europe (LANDSOUTH), responsible for coordinating defensive operations across northern Italy and the Alpine passes.
Decommissioning and Cold War Memorial
Decommissioned by NATO in 2007 and officially transferred to the Comune di Affi, the site is undergoing gradual preservation and musealization. The complex offers a tangible architectural record of twentieth-century military engineering, retaining its blast doors, decontamination locks, communication rooms, and vintage telecommunications consoles.
Today, the municipality uses the exterior and reception grounds to host educational exhibitions and civic gatherings, transforming a once top-secret military installation into a cultural documentation hub focused on European peace and historical memory.
Sport and Territory: The Monte Moscal Trail and West Star Raid
On the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026, the area around the former military site hosts the annual Trail del Moscal and the West Star Raid, uniting outdoor trail running with local history. The athletic race winds across the morainic slopes, pine groves, and panoramic ridges of Monte Moscal, affording sweeping views over the southern lake waters and the Valdadige vineyards.
In conjunction with the sporting competitions, the visiting schedule for the historical exhibitions and educational displays at the former base will feature adjusted access hours over the weekend, allowing athletes, spectators, and international visitors to explore the Cold War history of the territory.
