"TRACING THE GUSTAV LINE & WW2 ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, FROM ANZIO THROUGH CASSINO TO ORTONA"

Pick up from Rome Fiumicino Airport and transfer to your accommodation in Anzio or surroundings. Check in, meet with your Tour Leader. In the afternoon visit to the Museum of the Allied Landings in Anzio. Evening dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast we will spend the day exploring the battlefields and sites of the Allied Landings in Anzio and Nettuno. Accompanied by our expert guide we will visits the Beachhead War Cemetery, and the X-Ray and Peter Beaches where the American and British troops landed. We will then continue towards Latina to visit the Piane delle Orme Museum with a very interesting collection of functioning WW2 vehicles and tanks. Lunch at your own leisure. In the afternoon head towards Aprilia and visit the "Caves of Campo di Carne", the epicentre of the fierce German counter offensive. Return to your accommodation and in the evening dinner at a local restaurant.

• 09.00am Meet with the guide
• 09.15am Departure for the guided tour
• 13.00pm Lunch at your own leisure
• 14.00pm Visit to Aprilia and the Caves of Campo di Carne
• 15.30pm Return to your accommodation
• 19.30pm Dinner

After breakfast check out and departure to Monte Cassino. Accompanied by our local expert historian we will visit the Rapido River Crossing where the allied troops suffered heavy losses during a costly frontal assault. Our visit will continues to the Cassino Commonwealth War Cemetery and the Abbey of Monte Cassino. Here we will learn about the controversial decision of bombing taken in 1944. Lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon departure to Venafro, check in your accommodation and in the evening dinner at a local restaurant.

• 08.30am Departure to Monte Cassino
• 10.45am Guided tour of the battlefields and Monte Cassino Abbey
• 13.30pm Lunch at your own leisure
• 14.45pm Departure to Venafro
• 16.00pm Check in your accommodation
• 19.30pm Dinner at a local restaurant

After breakfast departure to San Pietro Infine to visit the "Parco della Memoria Storica" also known as the Ghost Town. It was completely levelled by heavy bombardements by the German army and has been left untouched ever since to become an open-air museum. The famous American Film Director John Huston filmed his renowned documentary here. Accompanied by the local expert we will walk through the ruins, visit the museum and watch the documentary. We will also visit the Winterline War Museum. Lunch and rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. In the evening dinner at a local restaurant.

• 09.15am Departure to San Pietro Infine
• 09.30am Walking tour and visit to the centre to watch the documentary
• 11.45am Visit the Winterline Museum
• 13.00pm Lunch and afternoon at your own leisure
• 19.30pm Dinner at a local restaurant

After breakfast check out and departure to Ortona. Check in your accommodation and then we will take a stroll to familiarise you with your new surroundings, accompanied by an aperitivo in the city centre. Rest of the afternoon at your own leisure and in the evening dinner at a local restaurant.

• Check out and departure to Ortona
• Check in your accommodation, light stroll and aperitivo
• 19.30pm Dinner

After breakfast we will learn about Ortona and why it was named "The Stalingrad of Italy". Our day continues to discover the "Battle of Ortona" events, starting from Piazza Plebiscito & the statue of the Cost of Peace. With the expert we will walk along the high street that was the stage of fierce door to door fighting costing a high number of lives amongst both civilians and soldiers. The next stop will be the Museum of the Battle of Ortona with its comprehensive collection of wartime memorabilia. The morning will conlcude with a visit to the Cathedral of San Tommaso and the Aragonese Castle. Lunch in a local restaurant and the rest of the day at your own leisure.

• 09.15am meet with the local expert
• 09.30am Walking tour begins
• 13.00pm Lunch in a local restaurant and rest of the afternoon and evening at your own leisure

"The Countryside: The Gates to the City". Today after breakfast we will depart to discover the sites that witnessed some of the bloodiest and fiercest fighting between Allied Troops and the German division protecting the access to Ortona. We will explore The Moro River Crossing just south of Ortona where Canadian units launched their assault across the valley under direct German fire. We will then move on to Casa Berardi and The "Gully" a deep natural ravine that the Germans transformed into a subterranean fortress. We will end the morning at Torre Mucchia, known in military records as part of Point 59, this high ground served as the northern anchor of the German defensive line after they abandoned the Moro River. We will return to Ortona and enjoy an aperitivo in the city centre. Rest of the afternoon and evening at your own leisure.

• 09.30am Depart for today's tour of the Moro River Battlefields
• 13.00pm Return to Ortona and aperitivo in the city centre
• Afternoon and evening dinner at your own leisure

After breakfast departure to visit Civitella Messer Raimondo. We will meet with our local expert who will tell us the history of how Civitella Messer Raimondo during World War II was intrinsically tied to the birth of the Brigata Maiella Partisan Group and the visionary British officer Major Lionel Wigram. In the harsh winter of 1943–1944, this area along the Aventino River sat directly on the Gustav Line, a heavily fortified German defensive line spanning across Italy. Civitella Messer Raimondo became a pivotal frontline stronghold and tactical observation post where Allied forces and local Italian resistance members officially fused into an effective fighting unit. Before our afternoon visit to the Sangro River Battle Cemetery we will stop for a lunch break in a local restaurant. Return to Ortona in the afternoon and rest of the day and evening at your own leisure.

• 09.15am Departure to Civitella Messer Raimondo
• 10.30am Walking tour begins
• 12.30pm Lunch in a local restaurant
• 14.15pm Visit to the Sangro River Battle War Cemetery
• 15.30pm Afternoon and evening at your own leisure

After breakfast the day will be completely at free to enjoy at your own leisure. In the evening Good Bye Abruzzo Dinner in a local restaurant.

• Day completely at your own leisure
• 19.30pm Dinner at local restaurant

After breakfast check out and departure to Rome Fiumicino airport.