Palermo, Licata, Gela, Taormina, Sicily; Salerno, Monte Lungo, San Pietro, Cassino, Gran Sasso, and Anzio to Rome, Italy . . .

Tour Highlights:
• Overnight in amazing Hotels throughout our Tour (mostly 4-Star with Sea View)
• Overnight in an 18th Century Italian Villa near Pollino National Park in Calabria
• Enjoy an evening in medieval Ortigia, the charming old town of Siracusa in Sicily
• Private Tour of Montecassino Abbey including the original rooms of St. Benedict
• Overnight in former wartime headquarters of the German forces in San Pietro
• Stand on the mountain where Mussolini was rescued by German Commandos
• Take an optional an visit to Troina, site of the bloodiest American battle on Sicily
• Experience counts! We have operated WWII Tours in Italy / Sicily for over 20 years

Alpventures Battleground Italy Tour (South) heads directly from Rome airport by flight to Palermo, Sicily. We spend our first night in Palermo then continue south through Patton's 7th Army area at Caltanissetta to the beaches at Gela.

Discover the historic city of Siracusa on the island's eastern shores, and visit the impressive War Museum in Catania. You will also see the infamous Mount Etna during our two nights in the enchanting resort of Taormina, before we head north across the Strait of Messina. From southern Italy we continue north through beautiful Calabria, to the medieval village of Morano. Spend a night in a restored 18th Century merchant's villa, before we continue north to Salerno.

Enjoy the beauty of the majestic Amalfi Coast as we take in the Salerno Battlefield and Beachhead and visit the ancient ruins of Paestum. We'll make a photo stop at the palace in Caserta before continuing our journey north to Cassino and Gustav Line. Enjoy a full Cassino Battlefield Tour, including stops at Mignano Pass / Monte Lungo, San Pietro Infine, San Angelo in Theodice, the city of Cassino, and finishing up at the famous mountaintop Abbey of Montecassino. Next, we head to the top of the Apennines Mountains and visit the place where Benito Mussolini was rescued by German Commandos in September 1943.

Take an exciting cable-car ride (weather permitting) to the top of the Gran Sasso and see the locations where the most daring raid of World War II happened. Overnight near the base of the cable-car in village of Fonte Cerreto. We continue the trip with several stops near Cisterna de Latina (U.S. Army Rangers) and in Anzio and Nettuno; including a visit to pay our final respects at the Sicily - Rome American Cemetery. Our last night of the Battleground Italy Tour (South) will be in the small town of Fiumicino, near the Rome FCO Airport. Here, you can spend some extra time in Rome, or elsewhere - just plan your flights accordingly.

This Tour only covers half of the entire story - why not consider completing the history of the Italian Campaign by joining our next historical adventure; our Battleground Italy Tour (North) - Rome to the Alps! (offered in 2026 only). By booking both trips back-to-back, you'll save USD $1500 per person, plus get two extra days in Rome (at your cost) between the two tours. Make the most of your time in Italy, and maximize your travel investment - combine these two incredible Tours and save big bucks too. We have had several guests do this in the past, and they were very glad they could experience both trips. And don't forget, those two free days in Rome serve as well-deserved down time between the tours. Interested? Click here to check out our Battleground Italy Tour (North)

We suggest maximizing your travel investment and coming into Rome early before the tour. Add as many days as you like; just book your flights accordingly. If you need suggestions on activities or hotel recommendations, just let us know.

DAY 1: IN FLIGHT - to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

DAY 2: ROME - PALERMO
Join us today as our Tour group meets at Rome Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport and we take our afternoon 1-hour flight from Rome to Palermo, Sicily. Afternoon sightseeing in Palermo as we transfer to our hotel for check-in and dinner. Special Welcome Dinner and orientation tonight. Overnight Palermo. (D)

DAY 3: GELA - SIRACUSA
Breakfast. This morning we check out of our hotel and head south through Patton's Seventh Army area to the southern coast of the island. Lunch en route. Afternoon Tour the American landing beaches at Licata and Gela. Late afternoon transfer to Siracusa (Syracuse) for check-in. Dinner on your own. Overnight Siracusa. (B)

DAY 4: CATANIA - TAORMINA
Breakfast. Hotel check out. Today we continue along the eastern coast of Sicily to Catania to visit the Historical War Museum of the landings in Sicily. Lunch. Afternoon transfer to Savoca, one of the mountain villages where "The Godfather" was filmed. Continue to Taormina for hotel check in and dinner. Overnight Taormina. (B, D)

DAY 5: TAORMINA
Breakfast Full Day at leisure in Taormina, for optional sightseeing, shopping, or just relaxing in our wonderful hotel with great views of the sea and Mt. Etna. Other options might include a visit to the impressive Greek Theatre ruins overlooking the town and beautiful landscape. Dinner on your own. Overnight Taormina. (B)

DAY 6: MESSINA - CALABRIA
Breakfast and hotel check out. Morning transfer north to Messina for lunch and some stops before the ferry ride to Villa San Giovanni. Continue north to the Pollino National Park for hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight Morano Calabro. (B, D)

DAY 7: PAESTUM - SALERNO
Breakfast. Hotel Check out. We continue our journey north toward the Bay of Salerno with lunch en route. Visit Salerno Battlefield sites such as the "Tobacco Factory" in Fiocce, and the "Burned Bridge," where the 36th Division held the line against heavy German counter-attacks. Visit the Greek/Roman ruins of Paestum and break for lunch. See the American landing beaches at Paestum and see the military memorials in the area. Overnight Paestum. (B, D)

DAY 8: MONTE CASSINO
Breakfast. This morning we check out of our Salerno Hotel and continue north to Cassino for a Battlefield Tour of Gustav Line sites. Here we will learn about the drive to the Gustav Line and battle for Cassino. Tour the Mignano Pass with stops in Monte Lungo and San Pietro Infine. Lunch. Afternoon visit to the Abbey of Monte Cassino (includes short walk to the Polish War Cemetery). Late afternoon transfer to our hotel for check-in and dinner. Overnight Cassino. (B, D)

DAY 9: CASSINO / POMPEI
Breakfast. Full day at leisure with the option of visiting nearby Pompei OR Herculaneum. Afternoon return to our hotel near Cassino. Overnight Cassino. (B)

DAY 10: GRAN SASSO
Breakfast and hotel check out this morning. Morning stop at the Rapido River (36th Infantry Division crossings) and visit the Cassino War Cemetery (Commonwealth Cemetery). We continue north with a scenic drive through the Abruzzo National Park into the remote Apennines Mountains. Lunch en route. Continue by cable-car to Gran Sasso d'Italia. See Campo Imperatore, where Mussolini was rescued by commandoes. Return to valley, check in and dinner. Overnight L'Aquila. (B, D)

DAY 11: LATINA - ANZIO
Breakfast. Hotel check out and transfer south to Latina for lunch. Afternoon visit to the impressive Piana delle Orme Museum. Continue to our sea-side hotel near Anzio for check-in. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight Nettuno. (B)

DAY 12: ANZIO / NETTUNO
Breakfast. Explore the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno. Visit the Anzio Beachhead Museum, followed by some free time in Anzio for lunch. Afternoon visit to the site of the Ardeatine Massacre near Rome. Late afternoon transfer to Fiumicino for hotel check-in and Farewell Dinner. Overnight Fiumicino. (B, D)

DAY 13: IN FLIGHT - from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Whether on the battlefield, or inside the impressive museums, you won't miss a thing as we give exciting, detailed accounts and informative historical lectures throughout each Tour. From the D-Day beaches of Normandy, to Hitler's Eagles Nest and beyond, our top priorities are your safety, comfort and enjoyment on Tour. Alpventures® World War II Tours are the result of over 25 years of historical research and first-hand, local guiding experience, making them especially unique.  Read More

"The Tour was FABULOUS! I loved every minute of it! Getting to some of those places on one's own would be a tough proposition, but with your help and expertise, it was a breeze. I would have to say that Gran Sasso was the high point, but everything was just super!" - Hugh H.