Western Italy and Rome

On Day 1, BSL personnel will meet the group at the Customs exit and facilitate the group’s movement to the chartered bus. From there, the group will travel 2.5 hours south to Naples and depending on the time available, visit the Pompeii ruins, and then check into lodging. The group will then have a group dinner within walking distance of the lodging. The group will explore the topics associated with the mil-diplomatic mission of BG Maxwell Taylor prior to the invasion and the Italian capitulation.

On Day 2, the group will have breakfast at the lodging and then proceed south to the Salerno Bay/Amalfi Coast to discuss OPERATION AVALANCHE, the American Fifth Army landings, the crisis associated with the counterattack and the commitment of the 82nd Airborne Division to prevent a withdrawal of the forces. Following the conclusion of the multiple stops associated with the beaches, drop zone, and decisions from the tactical to the strategic level, the group will follow the route of the 82nd Airborne and TF Rangers into Naples, the first major Italian city liberated in the invasion.

On Day 3, the group will eat breakfast at the hotel, check out of lodging, load the chartered bus, and then proceed up the central corridor to various stops overlooking the Winter and Gustav Lines (major German defensive efforts) that includes discussion of the attacks on Caserta, Monte Cassino and other prominent battles of the Fifth Army. The group will then check into lodging and have a group dinner in Rome.

On Day 4, the group will eat breakfast at the hotel and then proceed to the Anzio area, to discuss the follow-on seaborne invasion near Rome. This will include discussions of the landings, the significant loss of the majority of the Ranger Force, the approaches to Rome, and a visit to the Sicily-Italy American Cemetery. Depending on the coordination with the American Battlefield Monuments Commission, the group will then observe the end of day retreat ceremony at the cemetery. The group will then return to Rome and have a group dinner.

On Day 5, the group will eat breakfast at the hotel and then move to Vatican City. The group will tour the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peters Basilica. Following that visit, the group will conduct discussions on the importance of cultural sites, the impact of religion on warfare, and the impact of the Roman Legions in the Roman Empire expansion. Following that, the group will have time/opportunity to visit other sites of their choice in the center of Rome prior to returning back to the lodging.

On Day 6, dependent upon travel times, the group will have breakfast at the hotel, check-out of lodging, and then have a chartered bus/car movement to the airport for departure back to the US.