Take an unforgettable 10 day journey along beautiful coasts to visit incredible Italian battlefields of the Second World War. In addition to its renown as one of the cradles of Western civilization, Italy also holds profound monuments to World War II such as the ghost town of San Pietro and the battle sites of Gela, Monte Cassino and Anzio. On this once-in-a-lifetime journey, we will experience the legacy of the Roman Empire and follow the footprints of Allied and German soldiers as they waged battle for the future of Europe and the world. Beyond the indelible stories of war, we will be sure to taste the delicious cuisine, admire Italy’s incredible natural beauty and the finest examples of architecture in the country that is home to the world’s greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Trip highlights will include:
- Operation HUSKY – Sicily landing beaches in the largest invasion day in world history
- Allied WWII Landings Museum in Catania, the “capital” of Sicily at the base of Mount Etna
- Operation AVALANCHE – Salerno (Paestum) landing beaches on the Italian mainland south of Naples
- The Abbey of Monte Cassino – scene of the toughest fighting in the hard slog up the Italian “boot”
- San Pietro Infine: an ethereal ghost town preserved from WWII
- Operation SHINGLE – Anzio and Nettuno landing beaches at the southern gateway to Rome
- Sicily-Rome American Cemetery – an amazingly beautiful homage to America’s fallen
- Rome – from Caesar and the Republic through the Empire to Mussolini and on through today
- Spectacular meals, drinks and natural beauty