Affi: €7 million to convert the West Star nuclear bunker into a Cold

Affi: West Star nuclear bunker to become a museum

The redevelopment plan for the former NATO base in Affi, known as West Star (Stella d'Occidente), has secured a €7 million allocation to establish the Cold War Museum. The project aims to conserve the monumental complex and open it to visitors with a structured cultural offering.

Main features and planned interventions:

• Site size: a gallery approximately 1 km long and a total area of 13,000 m².
• Work phases: remediation and safety measures, expansion of parking and visitor services, and museum installation with multiple routes.
• Museum routes: three itineraries tailored to families, general visitors, and military-history enthusiasts.
• Timeline: a partial opening is expected from next year for the first route; full completion is planned by 2029.
• Visitor target: the plan estimates up to 100,000 visitors per year at full capacity.

Funding will be disbursed across several years: an initial tranche in 2026, further allocations up to 2028, and remaining funds thereafter. Additional fundraising steps are anticipated to complete the remaining exhibition routes.

The initiative seeks to combine monument conservation with local development, offering a cultural attraction that highlights the site's historical significance.