The Italian campaign of World War Two is sometimes described as the forgotten campaign, overshadowed by the D-Day Landings in Normandy. Join us to learn about the Battle for Rome – a fascinating chapter of the Second World War and a fascinating chapter in the history of the Eternal city.
Departing Rome at 7am we head south to the ancient Abbey of Monte Cassino, site of one of the toughest and most controversial battles of the Second World War. From the terraces of the rebuilt Abbey we look out over the mountains and valleys where the four month long battle took place. A short distance from the Abbey we visit the Polish cemetery, a monument to the Polish forces whose flag flying over the ruins of the Abbey finally signalled the end of the Battle of Monte Cassino. Heading back down to the valley we visit the British Commonwealth Cemetery where we can clearly see the global nature of the battle for Monte Cassino. After visiting a historical museum dedicated to the battle we head to the coast to visit the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno where nearly eight thousand American war dead are buried. From Nettuno we travel the short distance to Anzio to visit the Anzio Beachhead Museum. From Anzio we travel back into Rome following in the footsteps of the United States Fifth Army, from their breakout from the Anzio Beachhead to their triumphal entry into the Eternal city in June 1944.
