Footprints on the Battlefield Trails of Monte Cassino
Cassino, Italy
Trip Type: Half-day Tours
Duration: 5 hours
Monte Cassino battlefield private walks, through mule tracks and storytelling to arrive on the top of the impregnable hills defending Monte Cassino Abbey and the Gustav Line in WWII, discovering the bloody footprints of the soldiers and the hardships of the civilian escape.
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Monte Cassino battlefield private walks, through mule tracks and storytelling to arrive on the top of the impregnable hills defending Monte Cassino Abbey and the Gustav Line in WWII, discovering the bloody footprints of the soldiers and the hardships of the civilian escape.This was an old mule track that connected the village of Caira with the monastery of Monte Cassino passing through the plateau of Masseria Albaneta. This mule track was known for centuries only by the inhabitants of the district of the Cassino area but became, due to the war events of 1944, one of the most important roads during the military campaign on the Apennine peninsula between 1943 and 1945 to the point that it was named by the New Zealander soldiers "Cavendish Road".
In preparation for the Third Battle of Cassino, Indian and New Zealand Engineers worked during the night and under a particular strategy of smoke covering and camouflage in order to improve this track so that tanks could move on it, to try and outflank the defensive positions at Monte Cassino. An incredible feat of battlefield engineering was achieved, although the tank assault which followed was less than decisive. The track remained in use for the rest of the battle until Polish troops utilized it for their own tank advance in May 1944 in support of the final assault on the rubble of Monte Cassino.
Starting from the hotel La Pace we reach the village of Caira in 10 minutes with a transfer service that will leave us at the beginning of the Cavendish Road. From this point the first two kilometers of a fairly challenging walk begin, even with small stretches of slopes of 30%, which generally can be covered in about 1 hour, also including the first stop to illustrate the events of the area. There will then be only 1 km to get to the first Polish monument, the Bialecki tank which also determines the end of the Cavendish Road.
We will have a snack to regain strength and decide whether to head to the Abbey of Monte Cassino passing through the plateau of Masseria Albaneta, or to go to one of the other Polish monuments such as the obelisk on the hill 593 or the iron cross on hill 575. We may also decide to go directly to the Abbey for a visit. The walking ends at one o'clock, at the bus stop that goes down to Cassino or you may decide to stay for the next bus at 5:30pm or walk down at any time.
In preparation for the Third Battle of Cassino, Indian and New Zealand Engineers worked during the night and under a particular strategy of smoke covering and camouflage in order to improve this track so that tanks could move on it, to try and outflank the defensive positions at Monte Cassino. An incredible feat of battlefield engineering was achieved, although the tank assault which followed was less than decisive. The track remained in use for the rest of the battle until Polish troops utilized it for their own tank advance in May 1944 in support of the final assault on the rubble of Monte Cassino.
Starting from the hotel La Pace we reach the village of Caira in 10 minutes with a transfer service that will leave us at the beginning of the Cavendish Road. From this point the first two kilometers of a fairly challenging walk begin, even with small stretches of slopes of 30%, which generally can be covered in about 1 hour, also including the first stop to illustrate the events of the area. There will then be only 1 km to get to the first Polish monument, the Bialecki tank which also determines the end of the Cavendish Road.
We will have a snack to regain strength and decide whether to head to the Abbey of Monte Cassino passing through the plateau of Masseria Albaneta, or to go to one of the other Polish monuments such as the obelisk on the hill 593 or the iron cross on hill 575. We may also decide to go directly to the Abbey for a visit. The walking ends at one o'clock, at the bus stop that goes down to Cassino or you may decide to stay for the next bus at 5:30pm or walk down at any time.
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