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Day trip to Anzio - What to see?

I'm interested in feedback from anyone who has visited Anzio. My father was seriously wounded there by German machine gun fire in WWII. While recuperating in Naples from his war wounds he contacted malaria. I mention this to provide some background and explain the importance to me of visiting Anzio and my desire to see as much as I can while there.

Here's what I have outlined for my day trip. Please critique as needed and note if I'm missing anything. Thanks!

​​7:00am - Leave Pienza, arrive in Anzio around 10am

10:30am-12:30pm ​​Museo dello sbarco ​​​(WWII Beachhead Museum)​

​12:30-2:00 ​Porto di Anzio​ (Port of Anzio) - Walk through the HUGE port and have lunch at one of the restaurants on the water. Several reviews mentioned that you can see remnants of the WWII landings here. Not sure what exactly that means??
​​
2:00-4:00pm Sicily-Rome American Cemetery​ ​in nearby Nettuno.

4:00-5:00pm ​Anzio War Cemetery​ - Commonwealth in memory of those who died in the beach landings and battles in the area of Anzio.​ If there's time, which I doubt there will be, I would also like to visit the Cimietero Monumentale Inglese​ (British cemetery​)​​​.

5:00-6:30pm Villa Imperiale di Nerone​ ​Nero's Villa - Ancient ruins​. (Open until 8pm.).​

​6:30pm-7:30pm Dinner in Anzio!​

Posted by
752 posts

You've covered it all at Anzio and Nettuno! Oddly remnants of the beach landings exist for miles around. The local cimitero at nearby Amaseno my hometown is full of graves marked by tiny rusted metal crosses, some with names scratched on messed up by erosion, others are nameless. Soldiers died on the beach and civilians died in the mountains they ran to for cover.

Posted by
38 posts

Thanks Sandra! Do you think that the timeline is realistic? Any feedback on how improving it would be very helpful and appreciated.

Posted by
752 posts

I can't improve on this. I went all the way to remote Pietramelara to see the WWI war monument with my Great Uncle's name inscribed on it, he was my Paternal Grandmother's only full brother, he died in the War at 18 years old. Got to see their childhood home while there, actually preserved behind a iron gate in the town center. Very interesting and very emotional.

So I can't comment on this very personal trip. Possibly only some may understand it, so I say do what you need to do to make the trip work for you!

Posted by
1949 posts

Not that it means a whit to anybody, but the battle at Anzio in WWII was where the father of Pink Floyd bassist & co-founder Roger Waters died. Many of his compositions via music and film reflect what happened there.

Posted by
38 posts

Thanks Sandra - I wasn't sure of how much time it would take to see each site. We certainly don't want to rush through.

Jay - that is very interesting. Thanks for sharing this.

Posted by
11613 posts

You don't seem to have any travel/transition time in your schedule; if you are sightseeing at 6:30, you won't be sitting down to dinner at 6:30.