{"id":13629,"date":"2018-08-31T07:09:34","date_gmt":"2018-08-31T07:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=13629"},"modified":"2019-05-28T09:30:39","modified_gmt":"2019-05-27T23:30:39","slug":"the-abbey-of-monte-cassino-italy-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=13629","title":{"rendered":"Monte Cassino, Italy 2018 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date:  30th August 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled:  132 kilometres Mount Vesuvius in Campania to Monte Cassino in Lazio, Italy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited:  Caserta\u2019s Palazzo Reale + Commonwealth and Polish Cemeteries in Monte Cassino.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed:  Car-park at the Polish Cemetery, free. No services.  N41.49195, E13.80897<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget:  89 days @ \u20ac96 per day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our free overnight park on Vesuvius was quiet enough till 2am when some random dog started barking.  This lasted for a good half an hour before he decided to go and bark somewhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have our coffee and fruit, then prepare the Hymer for action, that being driving down the mountain.  The road is very narrow in places and we want to be down before 8.30am when the tourist buses are starting to make there way up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Making our way down to Ercolano again, we turn for the A3 and Caserta. Throwing bags of rubbish on the side of the road is a Italian sport.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Reminds me of Delhi in India. As soon as the traffic on the motorway slows, three lanes become five.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
About 40 minutes later we arrive at the Palazzo Reale di Caserta.  It\u2019s so big I cannot get it into the frame.  The Lonely Planet calls it compelling but we were disappointed. I would say we thought the \u20ac11pp was too expensive in hindsight.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Michael and Pam's Photo Sphere (Palazzo Reale Caserta Pano)<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
The Grande Staircase. So what\u2019s it all about. It starts its journey in 1752 when King Charles VII of Bourdon declares he wants a palace larger than Versailles.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
The Chapel. So we have 1200 rooms, 1790 windows, 34 staircase within its 250m long facade.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The ceiling frescos are impressive. However the rooms are generally unfurnished, the english information panels are missing from every second room which we found annoying.  But consistant with english speaking guides being available at a price.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
I\u2019m probably being a little hash, the Royal Crib. I presume it wouldn\u2019t be easy to shift on eBay, so it\u2019s still here.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Not the hall of mirrors but an interesting photo all the same.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We have spent 90 minutes walking about the Palaazo Reale.  It\u2019s an impressive building, but its now late morning and stiffling hot in here.  For some reason the windows are mostly closed and Charles never thought to have air-conditioning installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Looking out along the gardens of the Palazzo Reale. The gardens stretch for 1.5 klms up the hill. We look at each other and decide we have walked far enough.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We make our way back to the Hymer, pay the \u20ac3.50 parking fee (reasonable) and continue north-west for Cassino in the mountains of Lazio.  The battle for Cassino, often referred to as the \u2018Battle for Rome\u2019 in 1944 is one of those places I had read about and thought if we had the chance we would visit.  It\u2019s about 50 klms off our track north, but I\u2019m keen and Pam doesn\u2019t mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
A quick reference to the Commonwealth War Graves register shows 13 Australian are buried at the cemetery in Cassino. We cannot pass without paying tribute.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Whilst the majority of the thousands of graves here are English, Irish, Canadian, Indian and Gurkhas, we are surprised to see hundreds of New Zealanders as well. Anyway here are two brave young Australians.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Another Australian. as far as we can see, the Australians were all pilots and aircrew.  Note the DFC awarded to Flight Officer Seymour.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
A last look across the cemetery and walls of remembrance in Cassino. Such a peaceful and moving place.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The town of Cassino sits on the valley floor.  It\u2019s mid-afternoon and very hot so we drive straight past the free sosta here in town and start the climb up the mountain to Monte Cassino.  At some 550 metres it\u2019s amazing the change.  All we need now is some shade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
Michael and Pam's Photo Sphere (Monte Cassino Pano)<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Our next stop is the Polish Cemetery, just below the Abbey of Monte Cassino (pictured).  The car-park here is shaded from the afternoon sun by a grove of pine trees.  So we park, open all the windows and chill out.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Motorhomes can park overnight at the Abbey for \u20ac8, but parking here at the cemetery is free.  I think you can guess which option we take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
In the late afternoon we walk across to the visitor centre and go on to wander this wonderful cemetery.  Built into the slope of the hill, over a thousand young Polish men are buried here.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Looking back towards the Abbey from the cemetery.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n