The Italian Campaign featuring Salerno, Anzio & Monte Cassino
12 days from £1,949pp
About the tour: The Italian Campaign featuring Salerno, Anzio & Monte Cassino
Tour Introduction
In September 1943, during World War 2, British troops landed at Salerno as a result of Operation Avalanche. This led Winston Churchill to see Italy as the ‘soft under-belly’ of the Third Reich and a costly battle in the country followed. On this tour we take a look at some of the most iconic battles such as the landings at Anzio and the fighting for Monte Cassino. We also see how different nations played a role in the battles in Italy, as we see sights such as the Polish Cemetery at Cassino.
Tour Includes
- 11 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 9 evening meals
- Specialist Battlefield Guide
- Convenient local joining points
(Deposits from £300pp)
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone 01709 385 624, you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can -
- Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
- Send payments via online banking.
- Send payments via cheque.
- Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Tour Itinerary
For customers living outside of the UK, if you want to make a booking you will need to provide a UK postcode on our online booking system. If you are not able to provide a relevant UK postcode then you can enter the postcode for London Victoria Coach Station – SW1W 9TP. You should then be able to proceed to complete your booking.
If you do encounter a problem then you can speak to one of our friendly advisors who will be happy to help.
Please Note : After completing your booking, a member of our Customer Service team will be in touch to make sure everything is okay.
Either e-mail our Reservations Department or call on 01709 830 333 and they will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
Day 1
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to northern France for an overnight stay.
Day 2
To the Cremona or Parma area for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3
Continue south through Italy, making a stop at Florence War Cemetery en-route to Pomezia for a two-night stay.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Florence War Cemetery (2)
Key Visits
- Florence War Cemetery
Day 4 - Anzio
Today, we look at Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, and the subsequent fighting in the Bridgehead. WE begin at Campo di Carne and the infamous flyover, scene of heavy fighting in 1944. We then visit the Beachhead Cemetery before visiting the Anzio War Museum. After lunch in Anzio, where you have time to walk to the memorial at the Harbour, we see Anzio War Cemetery and finish at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno, where the US dead from Sicily to the Liberation of Rome are buried.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Sicily Rome American Cemetery, Anzio (6)
Key Visits
- Anzio War Museum
- Anzio Flyover
- Anzio War Cemetery
- Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio
- Sicily Rome American Cemetery, Anzio
Day 5 - The Battles of Cassino
We depart Pomezia for Cassino, and here we look at the fighting for Cassino in 1943 and 1944, visiting the Mignano Gap to see the war museum and Italian Cemetery, and then follow the Allied advance to the ‘Winter Line’. After lunch, we visit Cassino War Cemetery and the Cassino Memorial, visit the memorials along the Rapido river and then travel into the Liri Valley to look at the final battles for Cassino and the attack on the Hitler Line. We then check into our hotel in Cassino for a three-night stay.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cassino War Cemetery (6)
Key Visits
- Rapido River Memorial
- Liri Valley
- Cassino War Cemetery
- Mignano Gap Battlefield
- Mignano Gap War Museum
- Amazon Bridge Memorial
Day 6 - Salerno & Caserta
We begin our tour at Salerno where Operation Avalanche brought American and British forces ashore in September 1943. We see Salerno War Cemetery and then drive along the beachhead from the British to the American sector. We have the lunch period in Paestum, where fighting took place among the Greco-Roman Ruins, and then travel back via Caserta to visit Caserta War Cemetery and the grave of England Cricketer, Hedley Verity.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Salerno war Cemetery (4)
Key Visits
- Salerno war Cemetery
- Beachhead area
- Paestum Ruins
- Caserta War Cemetery
Day 7 - Monte Cassino
This morning we journey up to Monte Cassino and see the Polish Cemetery and battlefield area where they fought for the capture of the monastery, and then visit the Monte Cassino Monastery with its impressive views. After lunch, we have a walking tour of Cassino Town seeing where the fighting was in 1944, and then travel to Minturno War Cemetery to see where the British soldiers killed on this part of the Italian front are buried.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Polish Cemetery, Monte Cassino (5)
Key Visits
- Monte Cassino
- Polish Cemetery, Monte Cassino
- Minturno War Cemetery
- Cassino Town: Sherman Tank
Day 8 - Sangro River & Ortona
Leaving Cassino, we cross the mountains to the Adriatic coast and see the Sangro River War Cemetery overlooking the valley where fighting took place in 1943. After lunch, we look at the Canadian advance on Ortona, seeing the Sterlin Castle battlefield and the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery. We have time in Ortona itself to see where the street fighting took place in December 1943, and then we depart for an overnight stay in the Teramo area.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Ortona (5)
Key Visits
- Ortona
- Sangro War Cemetery
- Moro River Canadian War Cemetery
- Sterlin Castle
Day 9 - The Gothic Line
We continue along the Adriatic coast to where the Gothic Line battles were fought in September 1944, seeing the Coriano Ridge War Cemetery and Rimini Ghurka Cemetery. After lunch, we travel up to the Bellaria / Cesenatico area for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Coriano Ridge War Cemetery (2)
Key Visits
- Coriano Ridge War Cemetery
- Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery
Day 10
We depart and cross the area of the final battles in Italy in 1945, pausing for lunch before we continue to our overnight hotel in the Austrian Tyrol.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11
Travel through Germany to Belgium for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Return home.
Included meals: Breakfast
Pre-Tour Reading
A selection of related books for pre or post tour reading.
- Blackwell, I. - Anzio (Pen & Sword 2006)
- Caddick-Adams,P. - Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell (Preface 2012)
- Ford, K. - Monte Cassino 1944 (Osprey 2004)
- Konstam, A. - Salerno 1943 (Pen & Sword 2007)
- Orgill, D. - The Gothic Line (various editions)
- Rowe, P. - Monte Cassino: Then & Now (After the Battle 2011)
- Zaloga, S.J. - Anzio 1944 (Osprey 2005)
Passenger Information
The Tour
The Italian Campaign Battlefield Tour takes in the key areas of fighting from the invasion of mainland Italy in September 1943 to the breakout at Cassino and Anzio in May 1944. We will also have a look at some of the fighting on the Gothic Line in August/September 1944.
Foreign Currency
The Italian Campaign tour takes place in mainland Europe and therefore you will only need the Euro. You are advised to get Euros – in cash – in advance of your tour, as most banks in Italy do not provided currency exchange services.
What to Bring
The weather in Italy can be extreme - very hot and sometimes very wet and cold. So it is advisable to bring sensible clothing to cater for this; loose clothing for the hot weather, a hat and sun cream are all idea. Pack a fleece and waterproof – just in case! When we visit sites like the Monastery at Monte Cassino you will not be allowed to dress in shorts, so make sure you have at least one pair of trousers. Your guide will advise during the tour. As some of the terrain we visit can be rough you are also advised to have some sensible shoes; a pair of good trainers or walking boots being ideal.
Specialist Battlefield Guides
All of Leger’s battlefield tours are accompanied by specialist guides. Their individual in-depth knowledge of warfare will be informative, as well as enhance your overall experience, as they recreate a fascinating perception of the history and factual events of each battle. Discover the actual catalysts for war, the strategies employed and the final, inevitable outcomes, as well as experiencing the emotional human side of the front line.
Please note: On certain tours, you may get tour guides other that the ones listed below.
Hotel
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.
Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333
Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.
Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Your hotels will supply towels in your room.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay overnight in a hotel in the Parma / Cremona area and then for two nights in a hotel in the Pomezia area.
You will then stay for three nights at the 4-star Best Western Hotel Rocca in Cassino.
Thereafter you will stay overnight in the Teramo area, overnight in the Bellaria/Cesenatico area and overnight in Austria.
Hotels throughout the tour will be 3-star and 4-star.
First and final overnight stays in northern France and Belgium will be in city-style hotels.
Best Western Hotel Rocca
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About the hotel
The Best Western Rocca Hotel is a 4-star hotel in Cassino, situated close to the world-famous Montecassino Abbey.
Hotel Features
- Bar
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Lift
- Restaurant
- WiFi Available
Room Features
- Bath and/or Shower
- Hairdryer
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
- Telephone
- TV
Travel Options
Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.
Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £25pp (9 days duration and over) on all European tours. In addition to this seats on the second row can be reserved for £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £15pp (9 days duration and over). This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on feeder journeys to/from the U.K. port. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law. Central view seats are free.
Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach. Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port are not allocated.
Hot and cold drinks are served on the main tour coaches. Prices are approximately £1 or 1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by the driver. Drinks may also be served on the transfer coaches but this is not guaranteed.
Transfer vehicles are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure and will depend on where passengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the U.K. port may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are used on transfers and tours (air holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.
All coaches feature air-conditioning. Should the air-conditioning system break down for a period exceeding 12 hours, compensation will be awarded up to a maximum of £10 per fare-paying passenger per tour.
Depending on the location of your pickup point, you may be picked up by coach (not necessarily the on you are touring on), minibus, taxi, National Express or Megabus service. You may then be taken to another centralised pickup location or service station. We operate a passenger interchange at Folkestone Services, where you will meet the tour coach you are holidaying on and then continue on with your outbound journey. Similarly, on the way home, you may also change transfer vehicles at another location, to take you to your final drop off point.
One medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full. We may refuse to carry larger or heavier cases. Hand luggage can be stored in the overhead racks aboard the coach.
It could be either - This will be confirmed in your travel documents.
When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from.
Silver Service Coach
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Silver Service Features
- Designed for Socialising A stylish and spacious rear lounge offers a sophisticated and private place to unwind, where conversation flows easily and friendships are made along the journey.
- Privacy Board An innovative privacy screen creates a calm retreat away from the rest of the coach, giving you the choice to enjoy quiet seclusion while you socialise with fellow passengers.
- Tables with Cup Holders Thoughtfully designed cabinets with secure cup holders mean refreshments are always within easy reach, adding both practicality and polish to your travel experience.
| Silver service | Luxuria | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks Served on Board | ||
| WC and Washroom | ||
| Climate Control | ||
| Reclining seats | ||
| Deluxe Seating | ||
| Deluxe, Wider, Armchair-style Seating | ||
| Adjustable Armrests | ||
| Flexible Footrests | ||
| Extra Legroom | ||
| Superior Seat Pitch | ||
| Double Seats | ||
| Single Seats | ||
| Face-to-Face Seats with Tables | ||
| Personal Tables | ||
| Spacious Rear Lounge | ||
| At-seat Entertainment | ||
| USB Points and Plug Sockets | ||
| Communal, Drop-down TV Screens | ||
| Onboard Wi-Fi |
Silver Service Features
Deluxe design
Specially designed, luxurious seats enhanced with leather headrests deliver superior support, blending comfort with a premium finish.
Space to stretch out
Enjoy the luxury of generous legroom that goes far beyond standard coach travel, giving you the freedom to settle in with ease and stretch out fully.
Spacious rear lounge
Designed for socialising, the spacious rear lounge offers a stylish retreat with privacy screens, handy tables and cup holders – perfect for relaxing, chatting and enjoying the journey.
Thoughtful touches that make a difference
A carefully maintained interior climate and soft ambient lighting ensure the coach always feels comfortable, welcoming and perfectly suited for a relaxing journey.
Luxuria Coach
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The pinnacle of luxury coach travel
Exclusive to Leger Holidays, these exceptional vehicles blend state-of-the-art features with sophisticated design, offering business-class comfort on the road. Try Luxuria once, and you’ll never look back – the journey will stay with you long after the holiday ends.
With just 31 spacious seats, enjoy a calm, unhurried atmosphere from the moment you step on board – because true comfort means more space, more privacy, and more time to relax. You’ll also benefit from a choice of seating, allowing you to travel in a way that suits you...
- Double Seats Designed for two, double seats are great for couples or friends travelling together – offering comfort, connection, and a relaxed way to share the journey.
- Single Seats Offering privacy and comfort, single seats are perfect for solo travellers who prefer a little more personal space.
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Face-to-Face Seats
Face-to-face seats with personal tables are the sociable way to travel, ideal for card games, coffees and conversation.
With a superior average seat pitch – 32% greater than many leading short-haul airlines – Luxuria double seats offer unmatched personal space. Enjoy comfort that’s built in, not added on.
Luxuria Features
Entertainment at your fingertips
Immerse yourself in your own touch-screen TV, offering a world of films, TV shows, music, and games – entertainment designed around you.
The perfect pour
Our crew serves a selection of hot and cold beverages directly to your seat – ideal for staying refreshed throughout your journey.
Relax in unmatched comfort
Recline in spacious, ergonomically designed, armchair-style seating with generous legroom and experience a refined sense of luxury, crafted exclusively for your relaxation.
Stay connected
Keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey with USB ports and plug sockets at every seat – perfect for capturing memories and staying connected with loved ones.
Travel Extras
With an overnight stay, a Door-to-Door pick up or the option to meet us at the interchange, our travel extras allow you to create a travel experience to suit your needs...
Join coach at Interchange
+ Find out moreJoin your tour coach at the interchange.
On most tours if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Folkestone Services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines.
Excludes tours to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.
Door-to-Door service
+ Find out moreOn Battlefield tours of 7 days’ duration or more, you don’t even have to think about getting to your local joining point. Our Door-to-Door Service collects you from your home and takes you to meet your transfer vehicile, then brings you back at the end of the holiday. Door-to-Door Service is available within a 20-mile radius of one of our free joining points and is from £90 per car, return (up to 4 passengers per vehicle).
If you live a little further afield, you can also take advantage of this convenient option for an additional charge – please enquire at the time of booking.
