2019 Italian Campaign Canadian Battlefield Tour

The WWII Battlefields & the Famous Culture of Italy

75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Liri Valley

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Follow in the footsteps of the Canadian Army as we retrace the 1943-1945 Italian campaign, the fierce battles that set the Canadians apart as the superior fighting force even in the most difficult conditions of war. It was here, long before the Normandy campaign, where our Canadian soldiers - affectionately called the 'D-Day Dodgers' - left their mark of sacrifice in legendary battles at such places as Monte Assoro, the Liri Valley, Ortona, Coriano Ridge and so many more.

Your pilgrimage begins with the landings in Sicily and extends all the way through the Gothic Line at Ravenna to Florence and Venice. Battle sites include:

Pachino, Grammichele, Leonforte, Monte Assoro & Agira
Anzio, The Liri Valley, Pontecorvo, Melfa River, Kingsmill Bridge & Cassino
Moro River Valley, Sterlin's Castle, Casa Berardi & Ortona
The Gothic Line, Coriano Ridge, Savio River & Ravenna
... and more

Our Italian battlefield tour is the most comprehensive tour of its kind. We bring you the experience of a true pilgrimage to the Canadian battlefields of World War Two ... and ... we ensure that you will see some of the most famous cultural locations in the world ... Rome, Syracuse, Florence, Ravenna, Tuscany, Venice. You will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites too numerous to count, all the while paying homage to the young men who sacrificed their youth in the mountains and valleys of this beautiful Mediterranean country. If you were to make only one battlefield tour to Italy this is it.

On this 2019 edition of our tour we mark the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Liri Valley with several important events in the Cassino area. It will be a special time to be in the mountains of Italy.

You will stay at quality hotels throughout, selected for their great location and service. And you’ll be part of a typically all-Canadian group. Note: this tour will occasionally feature a walk of some short distance, ascending some stairs, or walking up some minor hills or slopes of varying degree in order to reach some of the amazing locations on the tour - good personal mobility is key to a positive experience. Read what past travelers have said about our trips.

Mark your calendar for departure in spring of 2019 and join us as we set out upon an emotional, inspiring journey - Canada's premier battlefield and cultural trip to Italy.

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Your guide for this amazing tour is Mark Zuehlke, one of Canada's best-known historians and author of the award-winning Canadian Battle Series, each volume of which focuses on a battle or campaign fought by the Canadian Army in World War II.

Mark has written extensively on the Canadian contribution to the Italian Campaign including the volumes you see here ... with a new book in the works!

ITINERARY

Day 1
Friday May 17
We depart from Canada for our overnight transatlantic flight to Italy, except for those who choose to leave sooner to extend their trip. Where available, guests will enjoy the luxury of a premium airport departure lounge.

Day 2
Saturday May 18
Upon arrival at Fiumicino Airport we will transfer to Rome for the first of two days in this incredible, historic city. Hotel rooms are pre-booked and available for immediate morning check-in. In the afternoon we will gather with our fellow travelers for our evening Welcome Reception Dinner. Overnight Rome - Mercure Rome Colosseum Centre. Dinner.

Day 3
Sunday May 19
Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Rome. Overnight Rome - Mercure Rome Colosseum Centre. Buffet breakfast.

Day 4
Monday May 20
We transfer to the airport, for a brief flight to Catania on the island of Sicily where we will spend the next three nights. Free leisure time in the afternoon to see the ancient sites. Overnight Syracuse - Hotel Parco delle Fontane. Buffet breakfast.

Day 5
Tuesday May 21
This morning we begin our tour of the battlefields where it all started, at the landing site code named 'Bark West Beach' at Pachino. In the early morning hours of July 10, 1943 the amphibious assault went in. For the 1st Canadian Division the invasion of Sicily was the first major campaign of WWII - Operation Husky. After landing against Italian coastal units the Canadian troops moved inland through the dusty summer heat. We follow their route to Grammichele, where on July 15 they came up against the elite Hermann Goring Division who put up a strong defense before relinquishing the town. After a lunch stop we continue inland revisiting the efforts of our troops as they engaged the increasingly determined German units, who fought tough delaying actions from vantage points of towering villages and almost impregnable hill positions. Overnight Enna - Grand Albergo Sicilia. Buffet breakfast, Lunch.

Day 6
Wednesday May 22
Today we look ahead to an ascent of Monte Assoro to visit the spot where the Canadians made their celebrated night assault and where you will take in the commanding view of the German defensive lines in the battlefields below. After lunch we make our way to Agira, where after five days of hard fighting, at heavy cost, enemy resistance was overcome and a route opened to Adrano, and with it, the final closing of the Sicilian campaign. We end the Sicilian portion of our tour with a visit at a solemn location, the Agira Canadian War Cemetery and the final resting place of 489 young Canadians. Overnight Catania - Il Principe Hotel. Buffet breakfast, Lunch.

Day 7
Thursday May 23
We take a brief morning flight from Catania back to Fiumicino Airport, and then head southeast into the mountains of Italy and the Liri Valley. Here we spend the balance of the afternoon looking at the battles near Aquino, with breathtaking views across the valley from high above in the little village of Piedimonte San Germano - followed by a drive and walk down to the actual battle site on the valley floor by the river. The itinerary is left flexible to allow for a tentative special remembrance event planned by the local citizens. Overnight Cassino - Best Western Hotel Rocca. Buffet breakfast.

Day 8
Friday May 24
Today is the 75th Anniversary of John Mahony earning a Victoria Cross for his actions at the Melfa River, which will be one of our stops today. Special events are also expected in the nearby hilltop town of Pontecorvo, where a fully restored 25-lb field gun stands in the town square as a testament to the actions by the Canadians to free the town 75 years earlier. Day Eight is again left flexible to allow time to attend these and/or other special anniversary events. Overnight Cassino - Best Western Hotel Rocca. Buffet breakfast, Lunch.

Day 9
Saturday May 25
As we again venture into the battlefields of the Liri Valley we attend a special 75th anniversary liberation event in the town of Roccasecca. We visit the famous Gustav and Hitler Lines against which the Canadians hurled themselves under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. German defenses were finally breached in the Battle of the Liri Valley and the road to Rome was open. The day concludes at the Cassino Commonwealth War Cemetery. Overnight Cassino - Best Western Hotel Rocca. Buffet breakfast, Lunch.

Day 10
Sunday May 26
We depart Cassino for an spellbinding trip through the Apennine Mountains to the small town of Ortona on the east coast. Overlooking the beautiful Adriatic Sea the medieval town is now a pleasant place to visit, but in 1944 it was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Here Canadian troops inched forward along the Moro River against repeated German counter-attacks. Finally entering the town, our soldiers encountered fanatical resistance in a battle that would come to be known as Little Stalingrad. We stop at The Gully, one of Canada's most famous battlefields, and also visit Sterlin's Castle and Casa Berardi where Capt. Paul Triquet earned his Victoria Cross, before concluding the day at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, our largest cemetery in Italy where 1376 young men await our visit. Overnight Ortona - Hotel Mara. Buffet breakfast, Lunch.

Day 11
Monday May 27
After breakfast we continue our journey north along the Adriatic coast and visit the recently erected monument at Point 204. Following lunch we stop at Coriano Ridge to remember the twenty-eight day clash that took place in August and September 1944. Here the Germans had constructed the formidable Gothic Line, the most powerful series of heavily fortified positions that had been thrown in the path of the Canadian army. Months of hard fighting took place before the Germans finally relinquished their hold. Your tour guide Mark Zuehlke, in his renowned history The Gothic Line, refers to this fierce battle as Canada's "month of hell". We continue the day with a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, from where we can take in a wide view of the battlefields, and conclude our day in beautiful and historic Ravenna, last capital city of the Roman Empire. Overnight Ravenna - Centrale Byron Hotel. Buffet breakfast, Lunch.

Day 12
Tuesday May 28
This morning we gather near the place where the third and final VC was earned in Italy, awarded to Smokey Smith for his exploits at the Savio River. Later we pay a visit to the Villanova War Cemetery to discuss the overall importance and costs of Canada’s almost two years of campaigning in Italy before returning to Ravenna, the seat of the Roman Empire and Byzantine Italy from 5 CE to the 8th century. Ravenna boasts a series of superb Byzantine mosaics which are generally recognized as the best to be seen outside of Istanbul. The afternoon is free to visit the UNESCO World Heritage mosaics, including an optional (no extra charge) private tour with our local expert guide. Overnight Ravenna - Centrale Byron Hotel. Buffet breakfast.

Day 13
Wednesday May 29
Today we travel to the world famous city of Florence, birth place of the 14th century European Renaissance. One of the most beautiful cities in the world Florence boasts a wide selection of art, architecture, museums and monuments including the revered 'David' by Michelangelo. You will want to visit the most popular and important sites which include the Cathedral, the Baptistry, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia. Wander some of the oldest streets in the city, then cross the Arno River via the famous Ponte Vecchio, and experience the newest area of Florence, the Oltrarno, where you will find trattorias, restaurants and bars to satisfy your every want. The Chianti wine region just to the south and the surrounding rich fertile province of Tuscany supply the city with all the fresh ingredients necessary to make eating here a culinary delight. Overnight Florence - Grand Hotel Mediterraneo. Buffet breakfast.

Day 14
Thursday May 30
Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Florence or choose to join our optional (no extra charge) excursion to visit the incredible city of Siena in the heart of Tuscany - one of Italy's hidden gems and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight Florence - Grand Hotel Mediterraneo. Buffet breakfast.

Day 15
Friday May 31
The coach departs Florence taking us to our final destination - the world famous cultural centre of Venice where you will have the afternoon to discover this amazing city on the lagoon. St. Mark's Square, the Rialto, the Bridge of Sighs and of course the many canals have for centuries placed the name Venice on the tongues of millions around the world. Venice in its entirety is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight Venice (Lido) - Best Western Biasutti. Buffet breakfast.

Day 16
Saturday June 1
Your final day of this grand tour of Italy is yours to discover Venice at your leisure and our guides are ready to share their knowledge of a host of fascinating sites to see and places to eat. In the evening we gather to raise a toast to those brave soldiers who fought for Canada as we come together for our farewell dinner. Overnight Venice (Lido) - Best Western Biasutti. Buffet breakfast, Farewell Dinner.

Day 17
Sunday June 2
The morning sees us departing for Canada via Venice Airport Marco Polo (VCE), except for those who may wish extend their stay at their option or carry on to other destinations. Buffet or box breakfast depending on departure time.

Feel like a little more battlefield touring? Why not fly with us to Paris for the start of the 2019 D-Day 75th Anniversary Tour - and take a nice discount off the price! Contact our agent for your special offer.

Note: This itinerary is tentative, with minor updates possible prior to departure. Clients should also keep in mind that minor variances are always possible during the actual tour based on the need to adapt to circumstances we encounter during our travels.

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PRICING (Canadian Dollars)
$5990 Land Portion of tour, based on Double Occupancy
+ ~$350 Airfare for domestic Alitalia return flights within Italy (mandatory group flight)
bookings are subject to availability of seats on these domestic flights
$1600 Single Supplement (optional, limited spaces available)

PRICING INCLUDES:

15 nights accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities
Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats, facilities and free on-board Wi-Fi
Buffet breakfast (cold and/or hot) at the hotel each morning, plus select lunches/dinners as outlined in the itinerary
All hotel service charges, local taxes, baggage handling (one bag per person) are included
Gratuities to Coach Driver, On-Board Agent and Local Guides are included! ... these costs are extra on most other tours and can add up to $150 CAD or more per person at the end of your trip, requiring an awkward search for a bank machine in the final days of your vacation ... we eliminate this. Be sure to compare!

PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Airfare ... check with our agent for a quote!
Meals other than stated on the itinerary
Travel / Cancellation / Medical Insurance, Passport & related fees
Any optional excursion not specifically stated
Items of a personal nature

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Hotels have been pre-booked but are subject to change
Full payment due upon booking. All payments are non-refundable.
Download and read our Terms & Conditions prior to making your booking.
Bookings between now and the March 15, 2019 deadline are subject to availability of seats on the mandatory intra-tour Alitalia group flights between Rome and Catania.

To reserve your seats please contact our exclusive booking agent:

Debbie Baggley
Uniglobe Travel Innovations Ltd
348 Lakeshore Road East, Suite #4
Mississauga, Ontario L5G 1H5
Toll Free: 1-800-565-7999
Email: debbie@travel-til.com

Are you a travel agent? Contact us!