The Italian Campaign 2026

This morning, a local guide will meet us at our hotel for a full day tour of Rome. You will be visiting the Vatican Museum, view the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica before touring on to visit Ancient Colosseum. Dinner will be at a favourite local restaurant of ours, near your hotel. (B, D)

Accommodation: Rome or similar

After breakfast, we will tour south to Anzio, with a visit to the Anzio Beachhead Museum, before continuing on to the infamous Gustav Line and into the Liri Valley – where Allied troops fought vicious battles while on the march to liberate Rome. Our first stop will be in a museum atop the Monte Leucio, a strategic point captured by Canadian troops in 1943. After a brief stop in Pontecorvo, near the old Hitler Line, we complete our day by travelling to the town of Cassino. Destroyed by the 1943 fighting, the town has been rebuilt on higher ground. Here, we will enjoy our dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Accommodation: Cassino or similar

This morning we tour onto The Winter Line Museum and the curator will give us a personal tour. We will then visit the Commonwealth Cemetery in the town of Cassino, before driving up the mountain above to the Abbey on Montecassino. This famous landmark, built in 529 was destroyed in 1943, then rebuilt in the 1960’s, now housing a beautiful chapel. While on the mountain you will visit the Polish obelisk and the Sherman tank monument at Albaneto Farm before paying respect to the Polish soldiers buried in the scenic cemetery nearby. Tonight’s dinner will be at your hotel in Cassino. (B, D)

Accommodation: Cassino or similar

This morning, we fly from Napoli to Catania where we will then explore the terrain and visit the scenes of the First Division taking Leonforte and Agira, in one of the toughest campaigns in the toughest of conditions – a harrowing and captivating tale. We will also pay our respects at the Canadian CWG Cemetery outside Agira before finishing our day at our hotel in Catania. (B, D)

Accommodation: Catania or similar

This morning, we will tour down to Pachino to see the landings in Sicily by the Canadian, British, and American Forces establishing the successful invasion Force in all of Occupied Europe. We will also explore more of Catania’s Ancient Roman city before dinner. (B, D)

Accommodation: Catania or similar

Today, we fly back to Napoli, crossing over the mountains and touring towards the Adriatic Coast to Campobasso. In the 1940 & 1939s this was the Maple Leaf City, a place where the Canadian Troops were able to enjoy a bit of R & R. Both of the team at the Battlefield Tours and the local communities of Campobasso highly encourage this tradition to continue! Tonight, we arrive in Francavilla al Mare where we enjoy our dinner and overnight.  (B)

Accommodation: Francavilla al Mare or similar

Today we visit the Moro River Battlefield, the Church at San Donato and the infamous Gully. We will take a circular route to Sterlin’s Castle, then Casa Berardi, where Paul Triquet of the “Vandoos” Regiment won his Victoria Cross. We then pass through to Cider Crossroads before re-entering into Ortona. This town was the scene of terrible fighting involving the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Seaforth Highlanders who carried out their “mouseholing” technique against the 1st German Parachute Division. (B)

Accommodation: Francavilla al Mare or similar

This morning you will head north along the Adriatic Coast past Pescara, Ancona and Pesaro to Rimini. Along the way, we will turn west to follow what was the German Army’s haunted Gothic Line.  Visits to Casinina to view the old bunkers, a museum commemorating the Gothic Line, the Italian monument dedicated to the Canadians at Tavullia, the Cemetery at Montecchio, and the Cemetery at Gradara will make for a full day. Tonight we will overnight and savour our dinner in Forli. (B,D)

Accommodation: Rimini or similar

After breakfast, we will visit the Coriano Ridge Cemetery – a mute testament to the fighting along the Gothic Line. The nearby tiny nation-state of San Marino offers a scenic panorama which we will view from the mountaintop of the old, walled town. After a brief visit to the Ghurka Cemetery, you will have some time in the afternoon to roam the beaches of Rimini or shop in town. (B)

Accommodation: Rimini or similar

Our coach will take us into the Po Valley – the last area of fighting for the Canadian 1st Division before being moved to invade France in late 1944. We continue on to Venice, where we will explore the heart, enjoying a walking tour of San Marco, Rialto and the Ducal Palace. After what will be a dream of a day, let us join together for our final dinner at a favourite local restaurant in the heart of the city. (B,D)

Accommodation: Venice (Mestre) or similar

After breakfast, we transfer to Venice Airport for the return trip home. 

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