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 short photo stop at the palace in Caserta before continuing our journey north to Cassino and the 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 stops in Anzio and Nettuno. The Tour concludes with a visit to the Sicily - Rome American Cemetery near Anzio. Our last night is near the Rome FCO Airport.

SEPTEMBER 29: IN FLIGHT - to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

SEPTEMBER 30: 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)

OCTOBER 1: 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)

OCTOBER 2: CATANIA - TROINA
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 Sicilian mountain villages where Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" was filmed. Continue to beautiful Taormina for hotel check in and dinner. Overnight Taormina. (B, D)

OCTOBER 3: 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. Optional full day excursion to Troina, the "highest town in Sicily," to see where American forces encountered their worst battle on the island. 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)

OCTOBER 4: 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)

OCTOBER 5: 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)

OCTOBER 6: 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)

OCTOBER 7: 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)

OCTOBER 8: 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)

OCTOBER 9: 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)

OCTOBER 10: 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 tonight. Overnight Fiumicino. (B, D)

OCTOBER 11: IN FLIGHT - from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Combine this Tour with our Battleground Italy Tour (North) for a complete Italian Campaign experience, and receive a USD $1000 Combo Discount off your total!

Reservation Policy:
A completed and signed Tour Reservation Form and a refundable $400 deposit (per person) are required to book our Tours. To book online: scroll to the top of this page and click the "Book Tour" button. You can adjust the quantity of people on our secure payment pages with PayPal. Payments are made to: ALPVENTURES. Payment in full is due 90 days prior to departure, and must be paid in USD by check or card.

Cancellation Policy:
Although Tour cancellations are not anticipated, Alpventures® reserves the right to cancel Tours for any reason, prior to Tour departure date, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on Alpventures® part. In the case of Tour Participant cancellation, a full refund will be granted up to 30 days prior to Tour departure. A cancellation fee of 20% of the Tour price will be charged for cancellations between 30 and 20 days prior to departure date and 40% between 20 and 10 days prior to departure. No refunds will be honored within 10 days of Tour.

"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.