Here, apples meet algorithms.
Beneath the orchards, vineyards, and cheese depots of northern Italy, a very different harvest is taking shape.
Workers are tunneling cables, installing servers, and fitting ventilation shafts in what will soon become Europe’s first and only underground data centre housed in an active mine.
The project, aptly named Trentino DataMine, blends old-world landscapes with futuristic ambition. While the surrounding region is known for its apples, fine wines, and cheeses, 100 meters below ground, Italy is laying the foundation for a digital vault that could reshape Europe’s data infrastructure.
A €50.2 million joint venture between the University of Trento and a coalition of private IT and construction companies, the centre is partly bankrolled by the European Union’s Next Generation fund. Of the total investment, €18.4 million comes from public funding, while the rest is supported by private enterprise.
For Giuliano Claudio Peritore, president of the Association of Italian Internet Providers, the idea itself borders on science fiction. “We had heard that abroad data centres were being placed in unusual places, but never in a mine.
Mines are humid, unstable places, not at all suited for digital servers,” he said. “That is why I find this project absolutely fascinating.”
But what seems counterintuitive on the surface is precisely what makes Trentino DataMine compelling. Inside the mine, natural conditions provide unexpected advantages.
With a steady underground temperature of 12°C, the facility enjoys natural cooling that reduces energy demands. Stability is another asset: the site is shielded from earthquakes, bombs, and electromagnetic interference, offering a physical layer of cybersecurity no conventional site can match.
“Years ago, there was already an intention to use these spaces because of their unique characteristics,” explained Roberto Loro, Chief Technology Officer of Dedagroup and a board member of Trentino DataMine.
“There is a rare combination of physical security with low environmental and energy impact. That’s why we decided to go ahead.”
At present, around 60 workers are weaving together the digital skeleton of the mine: 50 kilometres of electrical and fibre-optic cables, three kilometres of tubing, and advanced ventilation and power systems. Roughly 80% of the facility will remain underground, while the upper levels will host offices, security checkpoints, and reception areas.
When complete, the Trentino DataMine will not only safeguard Europe’s data with unprecedented resilience, but it will also stand as a metaphor for Italy’s evolving identity: a country where centuries-old traditions coexist with technological innovation, where the same soil that nurtures apples and grapes now shelters algorithms and artificial intelligence.
