During the Second World War, this entrance led to the basement of the Torrione degli Spagnoli, where Carpi's main air-raid shelter was established.
On March 18, 1944, after intense adaptation work, the shelter officially became operational, offering a maze of underground corridors, rooms and passages capable of accommodating a large number of people.
Equipped with ventilation systems, basic sanitary facilities and an alarm to signal the arrival of enemy aircraft, the shelter was staffed by dedicated personnel who ensured safekeeping, cleaning and lighting.
In the post-war period its walls remained covered with graffiti and messages left by the citizens who faced here the danger of town bombings with anguish.
With the intensification of the Anglo-American air attacks in November 1944, the Municipality of Carpi decided to extend and modify other public shelters with the permission of the Prefecture of Modena. In addition to this shelter, the largest one, extension works were carried out in the basements of other local towers (Torre della Sagra, Torre del Passerino, Torre del Duomo, Torre di S. Francesco) and also in some areas of the Town Hall and the “Uccelliera” tower of the Pio castle. At the same time, the authorities allowed the creation in town of many private shelters.
Before the air-raid shelters were opened, many citizens sought refuge in the surrounding countryside during air raids. As Don Tirelli recalled in his chronicle: July 30, 1943 - At last! After three years of war the siren begins to work, so from now on Carpi will be able to hear the alarms – meaning that the enemy aviation is advancing - and leave their homes to take refuge in the countryside'.
However, the measures taken by the fascist government to deal with the danger of bombing did not achieve the declared results of protecting the population. Especially those who lived in cities could not count on natural protections such as ditches and canals, and shelters became places to rush to at the slightest sound of sirens in the hope of survival. In fact, these places were often difficult to reach and often exceeded their maximum capacity.
Actually, the massive information campaign through notices, posters and constant reminders put in place by the authorities to disseminate among the population the 'Rules to follow in case of air-raid' - in which the behaviour to be observed is mixed with continuous calls for calm and prudence - turned out to be more of a propaganda operation than an effective safety measure. It proved to be totally unable to provide real help in the event of an air-raid or even to counteract, at emotional level, the harsh impact provoked on the population by bombings.
The scale of the bombing transformed the town layout and upsets people's habits: the words 'Refuge' appear on the walls and facades of the buildings in black letters; loudspeakers are placed at the side of the Town Hall from which sirens give the alarm; sandbags form high walls under the arches of the square arcades as protection against the bombing; anti-aircraft trenches are built in the suburbs and in urban green spaces, blackout is ordered.
In the countryside, the Italian Social Republic authorities prevented the construction of covered shelters, fearing their use by partisans, but allowed the digging of outdoor trenches, subject to control by the Black Brigades.
