I am back at my dad’s, and while sitting here recovering from the flu, or is it the travel bug, I’m writing the last few posts from my Italian adventure, including this one. There was still a lot left to visit, but first, after Rome, came Monte Cassino, the breathtaking drive along the Amalfi Coast, and the incredible Pompeii Archaeological Site. Stay tuned for my amazing time discovering Italy.
Monte Cassino (Montecassino)
Whether you know Monte Cassino for its famous Abbey or for the fierce World War II battle, this rocky hill is steeped in history and well worth a visit.
The Battle – A Brief History
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a series of four Allied assaults against the German Winter Line. Victory was finally secured on 18 May 1944, making it one of the toughest and bloodiest battles of World War II.
I was surprised to learn just how significant Poland’s role was in the final assault. To be honest, I hadn’t realised how much Polish soldiers had contributed to this historic victory. Visiting the Polish War Cemetery made that history feel very real. There is so much history here, and it is a truly moving place to visit.
The Abbey itself stands proudly on top of the hill and is a unique place to visit. The beautiful mosaic interior of the Basilica Cattedrale di Montecassino is especially impressive. If you have the time, make a stop here. You won’t regret it. After all, it’s hard to beat the spectacular views over the Italian mountains.
Pompeii Ancient City
Before driving along the Amalfi Coast, I visited the ancient city of Pompeii. Amazing! In a way, what I had seen underground in Rome, I now saw above ground in Pompeii. The archaeological site is unbelievable in both its size and the level of detail preserved, offering an incredible insight into what was once a thriving Roman city.
Unfortunately, life came to a sudden end when Pompeii was buried beneath volcanic ash during the legendary eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, killing more than 2,000 people.
I loved wandering through the ancient streets, passing partly preserved shopfronts and beautifully decorated homes with stunning mosaics and original painted walls. Wow!
While I was in Pompeii, I decided not to visit Herculaneum, another ancient Roman city. By then, I felt I had already seen my fair share of archaeological sites and was eager to continue my journey along the Amalfi Coast.
Apart from its famous archaeological site, Pompeii itself is a relatively small town that struck me as rather dirty and run-down. I had a similar impression while driving towards Naples. Although I had originally planned to stop and explore the historic city centre, I ended up driving straight through instead. After visiting Rome and Vatican City, it was difficult to be impressed again so soon, so I decided to save Naples for another trip.
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Driving along the Amalfi Coast
Spring had arrived, and the sky was a brilliant blue on the day I decided to drive along the Amalfi Coast. Since it was a Sunday, it seemed like the whole of Italy had the same idea. It was incredibly busy!
The Amalfi Coast stretches along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula. Towering cliffs plunge almost vertically into the sea, while colourful villages appear to cling to the rocky hillsides.It’s one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations, and on that sunny Sunday, I was right there experiencing it alongside everyone else.
I drove the coastline from Sorrento to Salerno, winding past grand villas, terraced vineyards, cliffside lemon groves, and tiny villages. There were people and cars everywhere, especially around the town of Amalfi, where traffic came to a standstill as everyone searched for a parking space.
Driving along the Amalfi Coast was definitely fun, but it was also exhausting. The narrow roads meant I had to be extra careful of oncoming traffic, parked cars, tour buses, motorcyclists, cyclists, and even people walking their dogs. It was crazy!
Nevertheless, the views along the coastline were stunning. The rugged cliffs and villages that seemed to grow out of the mountains looked incredible. What an amazing place to visit! Maybe not on a sunny Sunday, though, when everyone else has the same idea!
In the end, driving the 50 km stretch of the Amalfi Coast took more than four hours. I just managed to avoid the traffic heading into Salerno and was looking forward to a delicious pizza for lunch. In Italy, you never have to look very hard to find one.
The drive from Monte Cassino, along the spectacular Amalfi Coast and on to Pompeii, was certainly an unforgettable adventure!
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And so…
After all the adventures and discoveries, it was finally time to leave this side of Italy behind. The drive across the country towards Pescara was easy and straightforward—a welcome change after driving the Amalfi Coast. Best of all, it was lovely to see the charming hilltop towns once again, with their churches standing proudly above the surrounding countryside.
(post 91)
