Tour Updates
ITALY 2019 TOUR
MAY 23 :
Pick-up at Fiumicino Airport and transfer to hotel in Cassino; visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at sunset.
MAY 24:
Transfer to the archeological site of Herculaneum (or Pompei), lunch on route and transfer to Naples where the Forcemen arrived and spent their time on leave. Visit to the port, main historical sites and locations they were photographed in. Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 25:
Transfer by bus to the FSSF barracks in Capua, starting point of their deployment into action; approach to the drop-off area from which the Force continued their approach on foot to Mount La Defensa. Visit to the Township of Mignano and meeting with the Mayor and local authorities; tour of the restored medieval Fieramosca Castle (13th century, severly damaged during the battle). Transfer to Caspoli for lunch at the Historicus FSSF Museum and vision of all the military material found on Mount La Defensa. Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 26:
Transfer to the Winterline Museum in Venafro; typical italian lunch at a "trattoria" on route to La Radicosa, Hill 720 (location of the fighting on Christmas Day '43), Force Command Station, Mount Majo, San Pietro (site of the John Houston battle film). Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 27:
Transfer to Camino and ascension to Mount La Defensa, analysis of the battlefield, lunch on route to Roccasecca for the inauguration and dedication of a panoramic location to the Canadian Victoria Cross recipient Maj. John Mahony.
MAY 28:
Transfer to Nettuno for the ceremony at the American War Cemetery and Commonweath War Cemetery in Anzio; lunch on the beach and visit to Gusville (Borgo Sabotino), Mussolini Canal and Cabbage Castle. Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 29:
Transfer to the Montecassino Abbey, visit and transfer to Terracina for lunch, afternoon on the beach and visit to the Jupiter Anxur (Child Jupiter) pre-Christian Roman temple (I Century) overlooking the city of Terracina (of Etruscan origin) and the Pontine (Anzio Beachhead landscape). Return to hotel for dinner.
May 30
Transfer to the Museum of Piana delle Orme, lunch on location and transfer to Cori and Artena to see the Force approach from the hilltop of Pian di Civita and the Force Headquarters inside the Borghese Palace. Return to the hotel for dinner.
MAY 31:
Transfer to Rome to visit the Force sites (Margherita Bridge, Frederick Plaque, Porta Maggiore Gate), lunch on route and tour of the major touristic sites of Rome. Transfer to the hotel for the overnight stay near the airport in Rome before departures the following day.
June 1:
Departures.
*Several evenings will be spent at events , typical town festivities and concerts which are being organized in communities around Cassino.
Costs: Including rooms, meals and bus transfers will be $200 U.S. per day per person.
If you are interested in going on this tour please contact:
John Hart
403 526-7343
[email protected]
Gianni Blasi
011 39 349 366 0285
[email protected]
*These tours are being organized outside of official FSSFA activities. If you partake in these tours, there are some inherent dangers
and hazards. The FSSFA is not responsible for any injuries, or any other issues that may arise on these tours.
ITALY 2019 TOUR
MAY 23 :
Pick-up at Fiumicino Airport and transfer to hotel in Cassino; visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at sunset.
MAY 24:
Transfer to the archeological site of Herculaneum (or Pompei), lunch on route and transfer to Naples where the Forcemen arrived and spent their time on leave. Visit to the port, main historical sites and locations they were photographed in. Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 25:
Transfer by bus to the FSSF barracks in Capua, starting point of their deployment into action; approach to the drop-off area from which the Force continued their approach on foot to Mount La Defensa. Visit to the Township of Mignano and meeting with the Mayor and local authorities; tour of the restored medieval Fieramosca Castle (13th century, severly damaged during the battle). Transfer to Caspoli for lunch at the Historicus FSSF Museum and vision of all the military material found on Mount La Defensa. Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 26:
Transfer to the Winterline Museum in Venafro; typical italian lunch at a "trattoria" on route to La Radicosa, Hill 720 (location of the fighting on Christmas Day '43), Force Command Station, Mount Majo, San Pietro (site of the John Houston battle film). Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 27:
Transfer to Camino and ascension to Mount La Defensa, analysis of the battlefield, lunch on route to Roccasecca for the inauguration and dedication of a panoramic location to the Canadian Victoria Cross recipient Maj. John Mahony.
MAY 28:
Transfer to Nettuno for the ceremony at the American War Cemetery and Commonweath War Cemetery in Anzio; lunch on the beach and visit to Gusville (Borgo Sabotino), Mussolini Canal and Cabbage Castle. Return to hotel for dinner.
MAY 29:
Transfer to the Montecassino Abbey, visit and transfer to Terracina for lunch, afternoon on the beach and visit to the Jupiter Anxur (Child Jupiter) pre-Christian Roman temple (I Century) overlooking the city of Terracina (of Etruscan origin) and the Pontine (Anzio Beachhead landscape). Return to hotel for dinner.
May 30
Transfer to the Museum of Piana delle Orme, lunch on location and transfer to Cori and Artena to see the Force approach from the hilltop of Pian di Civita and the Force Headquarters inside the Borghese Palace. Return to the hotel for dinner.
MAY 31:
Transfer to Rome to visit the Force sites (Margherita Bridge, Frederick Plaque, Porta Maggiore Gate), lunch on route and tour of the major touristic sites of Rome. Transfer to the hotel for the overnight stay near the airport in Rome before departures the following day.
June 1:
Departures.
*Several evenings will be spent at events , typical town festivities and concerts which are being organized in communities around Cassino.
Costs: Including rooms, meals and bus transfers will be $200 U.S. per day per person.
If you are interested in going on this tour please contact:
John Hart
403 526-7343
[email protected]
Gianni Blasi
011 39 349 366 0285
[email protected]
*These tours are being organized outside of official FSSFA activities. If you partake in these tours, there are some inherent dangers
and hazards. The FSSFA is not responsible for any injuries, or any other issues that may arise on these tours.
First Special Service Force Tours
Italy - France - Norway
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I was fortunate enough to go on the 2010 Italy tour. It was an amazing experience that I will NEVER forget. Because of the great response to the tour and to continue to the "Memory of the Force" John Hart continues to take groups to tour Italy, France and Norway. If you are interested please read below what the tours are like and contact John Hart with his info below.
John Hart 3047 Cottonwood Way S.W. T1b4j6 Medicine Hat Alberta [email protected] 403 526-7343 |
Check out a short video by Tamar Scoggin from the 2010 tour here http://vimeo.com/14616525
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Victory Remembered: This video by Les Owen from the 2014 tour tells the story of why we go tour the places our loved ones fought and died at.
Here is the itinerary from the most recent tour in 2014
First Special Service Force Tours
Italy – France Tour May 25-June 11 2014
“From Santa Maria to Villeneuve-Loubet“
May 25:
- ARRIVAL IN ROME “LEONARDO DA VINCI” AIRPORT;
- CASSINO COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY.
May 26:
- NETTUNO AMERICAN WAR CEMETERY;
- CABBAGE CASTLE (EXTREME RIGHT FLANK OF THE 13 KM FRONT HELD BY THE FORCE FOR 99 DAYS);
- ANZIO MUSEUM AND ANZIO COMMONWEALTH BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY.
May 27:
- SANTA MARIA CAPUA VETERE (FSSF BARRACKS); DRIVE NORTH ON HIGHWAY 6 (SAME ROAD USED IN 1943) TOWARDS THE SITE WHERE THE FSSF DETRUCKED AND APPROACHED THE CAMMINO-LA DEFENSA MASS ON FOOT;
- FSSF MUSEUM SITUATED IN CASPOLI, BELOW THE 2ND REG. LA DEFENSA ATTACK ROUTE; ANALYSIS OF THE ATTACK AND OF THE MATERIAL RECUPERATED ON FSSF POSITIONS;
- TRANSFER TO MONTE LUNGO MUSEUM, ANALYSIS OF NORTH SIDE OF DEFENSA AND 3RD REG ATTACK ROUTE.
May 28:
- LA DEFENSA CLIMB ON GERMAN SIDE;
- MEDIEVAL CASTLE IN ROCCA D’EVANDRO FOR LUNCH.
May 29:
- SABAUDIA, MORNING AT THE BEACH;
- PIANA DELLE ORME MUSEUM, VISIT OF THE SECTIONS DEDICATED TO THE CASSINO AND ANZIO SECTIONS.
May 30:
- CEPPAGNA AND LE NOCI (FORCE CLEARING STATION, SEE BURHANS PAG. 151);
- LA RADICOSA AND FORCE HEADQUARTERS ( SEE ROSS’ SUPERCOMMANDOS, PAG. 141 UPPER RIGHT PHOTO);- HILL 720 (SEE BURHANS PAG.127); - WINTERLINE MUSEUM.
May 31:
- ANZIO BEACHHEAD MUSEUM;
- FORCE POSITIONS ON THE MUSSOLINI CANAL;
- “GUSVILLE” (BORGO SABOTINO);
- CORI AND MONTE ARESTINO , ARTENA, FSSF PLAQUES; UPPER ARTENA TO SEE THE BEACHHEAD FROM GERMAN MOUNTAIN POSITIONS;
- VISIT OF THE FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN ARTENA (NAMES OF FORCEMEN STILL ON THE WALL);
June 1:
- MONTECASSINO ABBEY AND POLISH WAR CEMETERY;
- MOUNT MAJO;
June 2:
- GUIDED TOUR OF POMPEI;
- SAN PIETRO (SOUTH SIDE OF MOUNT SAMMUCRO) AND VISIT MUSEUM AND RUINS OF THE TOWN FILMED BY JOHN HOUSTON DURING THE FIGHTING).
June 3.
- CRUISE TO PONZA (ONE OF THE PONTINE ISLANDS USED FOR EXERCISES BEFORE THE SOUTHERN FRANCE LANDINGS).
June 4:
- FORCE SITES IN ROME;
- MAJOR HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN ROME;
- LAKE ALBANO, CASTELGANDOLFO.
June 5:
- TRANSFER BY BUS TO SOUTHERN FRANCE.
June 6:
-VILLENEUVE LOUBET, FORCE DISBANDMENT AREA, AREA FSSF PLAQUES
- ST. PAUL DE VENCE, CHARMING VILLAGE WITH FSSF PLAQUE, LA COLOMBE D’OR RESTAURANT [FSSF HEADQUARTERS]
JUNE 7:
-FERRY TO PORT CROS [HYERES ISLANDS] INVASION ISLANDS
JUNE 8:
-EZE VILLAGE RAYMOND GATTI’S PLAQUES IN GRASSE, [FSSF AND ED THOMAS AVE.]
JUNE 9:
-RHONE AMERICAN CEMETERY. LE MUY, ROBERT FREDERICK TRAFFIC CIRCLE.
JUNE 10:
-CASTILLON OR CASTELLAR, MENTON, CAP MARTIN AND MONACO. ROYAL PALACE?
JUNE 11:
TOUR BREAKUP AND RETURN HOME
First Special Service Force Tours
Italy – France Tour May 25-June 11 2014
“From Santa Maria to Villeneuve-Loubet“
May 25:
- ARRIVAL IN ROME “LEONARDO DA VINCI” AIRPORT;
- CASSINO COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY.
May 26:
- NETTUNO AMERICAN WAR CEMETERY;
- CABBAGE CASTLE (EXTREME RIGHT FLANK OF THE 13 KM FRONT HELD BY THE FORCE FOR 99 DAYS);
- ANZIO MUSEUM AND ANZIO COMMONWEALTH BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY.
May 27:
- SANTA MARIA CAPUA VETERE (FSSF BARRACKS); DRIVE NORTH ON HIGHWAY 6 (SAME ROAD USED IN 1943) TOWARDS THE SITE WHERE THE FSSF DETRUCKED AND APPROACHED THE CAMMINO-LA DEFENSA MASS ON FOOT;
- FSSF MUSEUM SITUATED IN CASPOLI, BELOW THE 2ND REG. LA DEFENSA ATTACK ROUTE; ANALYSIS OF THE ATTACK AND OF THE MATERIAL RECUPERATED ON FSSF POSITIONS;
- TRANSFER TO MONTE LUNGO MUSEUM, ANALYSIS OF NORTH SIDE OF DEFENSA AND 3RD REG ATTACK ROUTE.
May 28:
- LA DEFENSA CLIMB ON GERMAN SIDE;
- MEDIEVAL CASTLE IN ROCCA D’EVANDRO FOR LUNCH.
May 29:
- SABAUDIA, MORNING AT THE BEACH;
- PIANA DELLE ORME MUSEUM, VISIT OF THE SECTIONS DEDICATED TO THE CASSINO AND ANZIO SECTIONS.
May 30:
- CEPPAGNA AND LE NOCI (FORCE CLEARING STATION, SEE BURHANS PAG. 151);
- LA RADICOSA AND FORCE HEADQUARTERS ( SEE ROSS’ SUPERCOMMANDOS, PAG. 141 UPPER RIGHT PHOTO);- HILL 720 (SEE BURHANS PAG.127); - WINTERLINE MUSEUM.
May 31:
- ANZIO BEACHHEAD MUSEUM;
- FORCE POSITIONS ON THE MUSSOLINI CANAL;
- “GUSVILLE” (BORGO SABOTINO);
- CORI AND MONTE ARESTINO , ARTENA, FSSF PLAQUES; UPPER ARTENA TO SEE THE BEACHHEAD FROM GERMAN MOUNTAIN POSITIONS;
- VISIT OF THE FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN ARTENA (NAMES OF FORCEMEN STILL ON THE WALL);
June 1:
- MONTECASSINO ABBEY AND POLISH WAR CEMETERY;
- MOUNT MAJO;
June 2:
- GUIDED TOUR OF POMPEI;
- SAN PIETRO (SOUTH SIDE OF MOUNT SAMMUCRO) AND VISIT MUSEUM AND RUINS OF THE TOWN FILMED BY JOHN HOUSTON DURING THE FIGHTING).
June 3.
- CRUISE TO PONZA (ONE OF THE PONTINE ISLANDS USED FOR EXERCISES BEFORE THE SOUTHERN FRANCE LANDINGS).
June 4:
- FORCE SITES IN ROME;
- MAJOR HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN ROME;
- LAKE ALBANO, CASTELGANDOLFO.
June 5:
- TRANSFER BY BUS TO SOUTHERN FRANCE.
June 6:
-VILLENEUVE LOUBET, FORCE DISBANDMENT AREA, AREA FSSF PLAQUES
- ST. PAUL DE VENCE, CHARMING VILLAGE WITH FSSF PLAQUE, LA COLOMBE D’OR RESTAURANT [FSSF HEADQUARTERS]
JUNE 7:
-FERRY TO PORT CROS [HYERES ISLANDS] INVASION ISLANDS
JUNE 8:
-EZE VILLAGE RAYMOND GATTI’S PLAQUES IN GRASSE, [FSSF AND ED THOMAS AVE.]
JUNE 9:
-RHONE AMERICAN CEMETERY. LE MUY, ROBERT FREDERICK TRAFFIC CIRCLE.
JUNE 10:
-CASTILLON OR CASTELLAR, MENTON, CAP MARTIN AND MONACO. ROYAL PALACE?
JUNE 11:
TOUR BREAKUP AND RETURN HOME
Here are some of John Hart's photos from previous tours