Its strategic position, overlooking the only natural way through between the south of Italy and Rome, definitely determined both its fortunes and misfortunes. In its millennial history, Montecassino’s Abbey has been devastated and hardly destroyed four times; its last destruction occurred in February 1944 and was caused by the bombing of the Allied forces in attempting to hunt out the German troops that were defending the Gustav Line.

Indeed, in the early morning of the 15th of February, more than 500 tons of high-explosive incendiary bombs were dropped over the monastery, terribly razing the house of St Benedict to the ground. On the 18th of May 1944, a patrol of the Polish 12th Podolian Uhlan Regiment finally made it to the heights and raised a Polish flag over the ruins, eventually giving an end to the sad history of the bloody battles of Montecassino. The Gustav Line was destroyed by an attack over the whole frontline, from the bottom of Mount Cairo to the mouth of the river Garigliano, and the German defense was forced to retreat. It was the beginning of the liberation of Italy that enabled the Allies to enter Rome triumphally on the 4th of June. 

The abbey was rebuilt “as it was” to witness the terrible destruction and the great and unpredictable rebirth.

Ufficio Turistico del Comune di Cassino

Piazza De Gasperi, 03043 Cassino (FR)

Phone: +39 0776 1666902

Email: info@visitcassino.com