The Italian Campaign featuring Salerno, Anzio & Monte Cassino
12 days from £1,699pp
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.
Early Booking Special Offer!
Book today and save up to £150pp on selected departure dates.
Tour Includes
- 11 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 9 evening meals
- Specialist Battlefield Guide
- Convenient local joining points
(Deposits from £50pp)
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone (), 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.
Travel with us on a new version of this classic battlefield tour for the 80th Anniversary year, looking at the story of the 'Tough Old Gut' - the hard-fought war in Italy 1943-45 which cost over 300,000 casualties. Our highlights include Salerno, Anzio and Cassino, and places where the battles took place along the Adriatic coast.
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 Milan area for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - 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
Day 5 - The Battles of Cassino
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’ and visit the memorials along the Rapido river. After lunch, we visit Cassino War Cemetery and the Cassino Memorial and then travel into the Liri Valley to look at the final battles for Cassino and the attack on the Hitler Line.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - 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
Day 7 - Anzio
Today, we look at the Battle of Anzio, seeing the Sicily Rome American War Cemetery at Nettuno before having our lunch period in the seaside town of Anzio. After we see the Anzio War Museum, Anzio War Cemetery and the Beachhead Cemetery, before going to the infamous Flyover at Campo di Carne, the scene of heavy fighting in 1944.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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 Montesilvano/ Teramo area.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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
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 for six nights at the 4-star Best Western Hotel Rocca in Cassino. The hotel offers a restaurant, bar, lift and lounge.
Overnight stay in the Montesilvano / Teramo area, the Cessenactico / Bellaria area and in Austria will be in a minimum 3-star hotel.
Overnight stays in northern France, northern Italy and Belgium will be in city-style hotels.
Best Western Hotel Rocca
+ View moreAbout 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 Stop 24 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
+ View moreSilver Service Features
- Sit back and relax in specially-designed, deluxe reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and more legroom than standard coaches.
- Enjoy the perfect temperature onboard with climate control.
- Relax and have a chat in the spacious rear lounge.
- Servery on board offering a range of refreshments.
- Porterage* at most hotels, so you really don’t have to lift a finger.
- Time flies with our onboard entertainment system.
- With free personal headphones you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs.
- Onboard toilet
Silver Service Seating Plan
Silver Service Virtual Tour
Luxuria Coach
+ View moreLuxuria Features
- Deluxe armchair-style seats with leather exterior, central arm rests with cup holders and retractable calf rests give you a more comfortable journey.
- Every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch screen T.V. offering a wide choice of entertainment so you can control what you want to watch and when.
- There’s also a selection of double and single seats, including four seats face-to-face with tables. And with a total of 7 single seats available, these are ideal for passengers travelling independently.
- Plug sockets and USB points at each seat mean you can keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey.
- Onboard toilet.
Luxuria Seating Plan
Luxuria Virtual Tour
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 Stop 24 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.