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Canadian War Sites Tour The Italian Campaign September 14 – 30, 2010 Small group tour (16 - 21) |
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Canadian troops played a vital role in the 20-month Mediterranean campaign
which led to the liberation of Italy during the Second World War. In fact, this
campaign was the first large-scale land operation in which the Canadian Army stationed
in Great Britain took part. In this campaign, which was fought in Sicily from July 10 to August 6, 1943, and in mainland Italy from September 3, 1943, to February 25, 1945, the fighting was particularly bitter. The Germans, taking full advantage of mountain peaks and swiftly running rivers, made Allied advance very difficult and costly. There were 25,264 Canadian casualties in the fighting, including more than 5,900 who were killed. We’ll spend two full weeks following in the footsteps of the Canadian troops.
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Your Executive Worldwide Travel Tour Itinerary |
| Day 1… Tuesday September 14th… Depart Canada for Catania Sicily via Rome. (overnight flight) Day 2… Wednesday September 15th… In Catania we will pick up our vans and drive to Siracusa. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to rest and/or visit this ancient and captivating city, including the archaelogical museum. Siracusa, founded by the Corinthians, grew up around the 8th century BC and from the 5th to the 3rd centuries BC had become the most important and powerful Greek settlement in the Mediterranean. We will gather before dinner for a briefing on the tour. (two nights in Siracusa) |    |
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Day 3…Thursday September 16th This morning we will drive an hour or so south to the Pachino beaches where the 1st Canadian Infantry Division landed on July 10 1943. Here we will spend the day viewing and discussing the assault landings on that memorable day. We will walk over Roger and Sugar Beaches and see the monuments to the landings. Swimming may be possible so bring your bathing suits. We will return to our Siracusa hotel. |
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Day 4…Friday September 17th… We will check out of our hotel and spend the day driving along the route the Canadians followed after their landings. The route leads through the ancient towns of Modica, Ragusa, Grammichele, Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina and Leonforte/Assoro with stop points to discuss the operations. We will book into our hotel in Enna, Sicily’s highest town (3090 ft/942 m). This fine town sits atop a colossal crag with sweeping views. Most of Enna’s sights are clustered in the old town among the ancient streets. (4 nights in Enna) |
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Day 5…Saturday September 18th… It was in this area that the Germans were determined to slow down the Canadian advance, that 1st Division had its most and costliest operations. We’ll look at the battles for Leonforte, Assoro with its Norman castle, and Agira. These mountain villages were the anchor of the enemy lines and saw intense fighting. A visit to the Canadian War cemetery at Agira will complete the day |
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Day 6…Sunday September 19th… This will be a day to visit the remarkable Greek ruins at Agrigento. Most of these Doric temples are indeed in ruins however you can get an idea of what they used to be in all their glory. The setting is beautiful with wildflowers in the surrounding fields and the sea in the background. Day 7…Monday September 20th… Close at hand is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Villa Romana del Casale, a luxurious Roman villa from around 320 CE with the richest, largest and most complex collection of late Roman mosaics in the world. This is an ideal day for a visit here. |
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| Day 8…Tuesday September 21st… Today we will turn in the vans at Catania airport, and fly directly to Rome. We will again pick up our vans and drive to Cassino via Frosinone, a town liberated by Canadians. Tonight we are in our Cassino hotel. (2 nights) Day 9…Wednesday September 22nd… Today we’ll look at the early battles for Cassino over the 1943-44 winter by American, British, Indian and New Zealand troops that destroyed both the town and the 5th century Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino. The enormous Abbey sits on the crest of a precipitous mountain. In the siege the Abbey was almost completely destroyed but it has been rebuilt according to the original plan. Visit the Abbey and the Polish memorial on Montecassino. 
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Day 10…Thursday September 23rd… We’ll spend the day travelling to Ortona focusing on the Canadian Corps as they moved across the Apennines from Ortona to Cassino in May 1944 for the Battle of Rome. (3 nights in Ortona)) |
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| Day 11…Friday September 24th… Today we will follow the Canadian operations in December 1943 as they fought their way from the Sangro River towards Ortona, especially the battles at San Leonardo and Casa Berardi, site of VanDoo Maj. Paul Triquet’s VC- winning action. |
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Day 12…Saturday September 25th… When they reached Ortona the Canadians had to fight their way street by street, house by house, to drive the Germans out. We will walk the city to try to get a sense of their struggle. A visit to the War cemetery underlines the cost. A visit to the Battle of Ortona Museum will be included. |
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| Day 13…Sunday September 26th… Today we’ll drive north alongside the Adriatic to Ferno and the start of the Gothic Line operations in August 1944. From there we’ll leave the autostrada for back roads to follow the Canadian advance from the Metauro to the Foglia rivers. Then we’ll break, visit the Montecchio War cemetery, and drive to our hotel in Rimini. Rimini was once a quaint seaside resort. Today it is the largest beach resort in Europe with a seafront stretching for almost (9 miles/ 15 km). There is a pleasant cobbled street old quarter. (2 nights in Rimini) |
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Day 14…Monday September 27th. Today we will resume our look at the Gothic Line operations and look at the Canadian operations from the Foglia River through Tavulia and Coriano to San Fortunato and Rimini. We’ll visit the Coriano War cemetery and the memorials to Canadians at Tavulia and Rimini. |
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| Day 15…Tuesday September 28th… Today we will drive to Florence with stops enroute in Ravenna and the Florence War cemetery. In Florence we will be well situated to visit this renowned city with its plethora of treasures. (2 nights in Florence).   |
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Day 16…Wednesday September 29th A free day in Florence. In the evening, our farewell dinner. Day 17…Thursday September 30th Return to Canada. Please note that the itinerary may be subject to minor changes - if it is necessary to change hotels the same standard will be maintained. |
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Tour Escort and Guide Marilyn Minnes is a former high school teacher who, while teaching for DND in Germany, took many opportunities to tour Canadian memorial sites. During these visits Marilyn felt a need to play a continuing role in recognizing and remembering the sheer bravery, determination and sacrifices of her fellow Canadians buried on foreign soil, as well as those who were able to return home. Historians on this tour will be Alan Fowler and Mike McNorgan. Alan is a former RCR company commander and holds a Masters degree in War Studies from the Royal Military College. He is president of the local association of The RCR. Mike, with over 39 years of military service, was with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He is the author or co-author of four books on military history. Over the last 7 years Mike worked as a staff officer out of National Defence Headquarters at the Directorate of History and Heritage. |
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