Artificial Intelligence brings history to life

Thirty years on from the start of its major restoration, the Bramafam Fort Bardonecchia, the most important fortification in the Cottian Alps at the end of the 19th century, is taking a revolutionary leap into the future. The museum complex, a branch of the National Artillery Museum in Turin, has unveiled an extraordinary technological transformation by integrating artificial intelligence throughout its exhibition route.

Artificial Intelligence in the service of historical memory

At the heart of the 2026 exhibition lies the launch of 50 new multimedia installations and in the “revitalisation” of over 500 historical images and vintage photographs, alongside documentaries from the Istituto Luce.

Thanks to AI algorithms, the faces and expressions of soldiers from the past are brought to life, offering visitors a powerful emotional experience that bridges the gap across time whilst preserving the rigour of historical memory. The route is divided into 39 exhibition rooms enriched by:

• 180 mannequins dressed in original period uniforms;
• 74 pieces of historic artillery;
• Over 2,000 artefacts illustrating the daily lives of soldiers at the front;
• Accurate environmental reconstructions.

“We didn’t want just a museum-cum-storage facility”, explains Pier Giorgio Corino, the heart and soul of the project. “The idea that really struck us was to focus on telling the story of our historical heritage in order to preserve and pass on our collective memory. Today, thanks to technology, that memory speaks a universal language that is accessible to all generations”.

A best-practice model of volunteering and civic engagement

The history of Forte Bramafam is a story of dedication that is truly one of a kind. In 1995, the’Association for the Study of Military History and Architecture (ASSAM) rented from the Ministry of Finance an abandoned, dilapidated and ransacked complex.

Over the course of three decades, thanks to more than 110,000 hours of voluntary work Thanks to funding from public bodies, banking foundations and the direct reinvestment of ticket proceeds, the building was saved from total destruction. The initiative is a shining example of cultural management: a private association that pays a regular fee to the State to restore and manage a public asset, which is now ready to be transferred to the Municipality of Bardonecchia under the State Property Federalism scheme. With over 110,000 visitors welcomed, the fort is now recognised as one of the most highly regarded and important military narrative museums in Europe.

Looking ahead to 2027: further expansion on the horizon

Work on Forte Bramafam continues. Restoration of the Throat gallery, which involves the restoration and reconstruction of two late 19th-century Gruson artillery installations. This initiative will culminate in the 2027 with the opening of a new exhibition hall, providing a further 600 square metres.

To find out more about the facility’s thirty-year history and discover its new technological installations, two feature reports have been published on YouTube:

• Thirty years in a minute: watch the video
• A closer look at the new multimedia system: watch the video

Opening Times Calendar – 2026 Season

• July: Every Saturday and Sunday
• August: Every day from 1 to 30 August
• September: Every Sunday
• October: Every Sunday
• November: Sunday 1 November

Information and Contact

• Operating body: Association for the Study of Military History and Architecture – Forte Bramafam, Bardonecchia (TO)
• Website: www.fortebramafam.it
• E-mail: [email protected]