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THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
CLICK HERE

Central Italy
20 September - 27 September 2010

CENTRAL ITALY
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY

Day 1 Monday 20 September
am  Flight from London Heathrow to Pisa.
pm Free time.
Day 2 Tuesday 21 September
am 8th Army advance north of Rome June-July '44; Divisional Recce in action; the Warwickshire Yeomanry probe forward from Orvieto to the shores of Lake Trasimene; The Battle of Lake Trasimene. Visit Assisi War Cemetery.
pm 10th Indian Division in Upper Tiber Valley (story of a VC); Nestore River Crossing.
Day 3 Wedneday 22 September
am  Towards the Gothic Line - Arno and Upper Tiber July-Aug '44; Capture of Citta Di Castello; Monterchi (2 posthumous VCs); Catenaia Alps (German counter attacks).
pm Gurkhas in the Castello/Altuccia area; New Zealanders in Arno Valley and advance on Florence. Visit Arezzo War Cemetery.
Day 4 Thursday 23 September
  Free day.
Day 5 Friday 24 September
am  Break In to the Gothic Line - Aug-Sep '44 (Operation OLIVE); Cesta Fortress (Arms and Armour Museum); San Marino; Gothic outpost line (River Foglia-Montegridolfo);Canadians at Montecchio.
pm Gothic main defensive line (Gemmano-‘Cassino of the Adriatic’); Coriano Ridge (1st Armoured Division); Coriano Ridge War Cemetery or Gurkha Rimini War Cemetery.
Day 6 Saturday 25 September
am  Breakout from the Gothic Line Oct-Dec '44. Kukris on Mount Chico; Canadian crossing of River Savio (a VC is won); 46th (Midland) Division Cosina Canal crossing.
pm Sherwood Foresters at Faenza (another VC). Visit Faenza War Cemetery.
Day 7 Sunday 26 September
  Free day. Optional excursion by train to Florence.
Day 8 Monday 27 September
am  Free time.
pm Return flight to London Heathrow.
 
Central Italy map
 
Sherman Tank entering Florence, August 1944 (IWM NA 17611)

Tour Code B2IT01

After the fall of Rome in June 1944, the Allies continued their pursuit of the retreating Germans, reaching the Gothic Line north of Florence by mid-August. 

We follow the German delaying actions from Lake Trasimene to the valleys of the Arno, the Upper Tiber to the Gothic Line. Here, the natural barriers of the mountains, as well as gritty German resistance, had to be overcome. The result was Operation Olive in August-September 1944 which resulted in a notable and hard-fought victory. Our tour will explain how it was done.

Highlights include:

  • Follow dramatic battles through scenic Tuscan hilltop towns including Assisi and Arezzo - each one a Renaissance gem
  • See where the German outpost line was broken on the River Foglia
  • Visit the tiny Republic of San Marino and hear how the Gothic Line was breached by the Canadians. See Gemmano - 'the Cassino of the Adriatic'
  • See Coriano Ridge where early disaster was eventually followed by success
  • Personal visits to war cemeteries at Assisi, Arezzo, Coriano Ridge and Faenza are also possible
  • Optional visit to Florence - Italy's Renaissance masterpiece
     

COST

£835 per person sharing
£126 single supplement
£100 deposit

All entrance fees included (except optional visits).

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

7 nights hotel accommodation on a half board basis, plus 2 packed lunches.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

  • Return flights from London to Pisa including all taxes and service charges.
  • Transport by coach throughout tour.
      

GUIDE

Tour led by experienced Guild of Battlefield Guide.

Assisi

 

Infantry advance on Arezzo, July 1944 (IWM NA 16932) 

 

Destroyed train, Cortona-Arezzo line (IWM TR 2091)

BOOK