Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
Encyclopedia
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial is a cemetery for American military personnel who were killed in World War II
. Established as a temporary wartime cemetery on 24 January 1944, in Nettuno
, two days after the landing at Anzio
and Nettuno, codenamed Operation Shingle
, the site in Italy
covers 77 acres (311,608.2 m²), rising in a gentle slope from a broad pool with an island and cenotaph
flanked by groups of Italian cypress trees. Beyond the pool is the immense field of headstones of 7,861 of American military war dead, arranged in gentle arcs on broad green lawns beneath rows of Roman pines. The majority of these men died in the liberation of Sicily
, codenamed Operation Husky
, (July 10 to August 17, 1943); in the landings in the Salerno
Area, codenamed Operation Avalanche
, (September 9, 1943) and the heavy fighting northward; in the landings, codenamed Operation Shingle
, at Anzio and Nettuno and expansion of the beachhead (January 22, 1944 to May 1944); and in air and naval support in the regions.
A wide central mall leads to the memorial, rich in works of art and architecture, expressing America's remembrance of the dead. It consists of a chapel to the south, a peristyle, and a map room to the north. On the white marble walls of the chapel are engraved the names of 3,095 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The map room contains a bronze relief map and four fresco maps depicting the military operations in Sicily and Italy. At each end of the memorial are ornamental Italian gardens.
The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
, which is immediately east of Anzio
, 38 miles (61.2 km) south of Rome
. The cemetery can be reached by car from Rome along the Via Pontina (highway 148). Drive south approximately 37 miles (59.5 km) and exit at Campoverde Nord/Nettuno. Turn right to Nettuno, continuing 5½ miles to the cemetery. A visitor who is not familiar with Nettuno should consider downloading a map for directions within Nettuno. There is hourly train service from Rome Termini railway station to Nettuno, where taxicabs can be hired. In the alternative, travelers can walk from the train station (taking via Cavour to via Santa Maria) and reach the cemetery within about 20 minutes. There are numerous hotels in Anzio and Nettuno.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Established as a temporary wartime cemetery on 24 January 1944, in Nettuno
Nettuno
Nettuno is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy, 60 kilometers south of Rome. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune...
, two days after the landing at Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
and Nettuno, codenamed Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
, the site in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
covers 77 acres (311,608.2 m²), rising in a gentle slope from a broad pool with an island and cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
flanked by groups of Italian cypress trees. Beyond the pool is the immense field of headstones of 7,861 of American military war dead, arranged in gentle arcs on broad green lawns beneath rows of Roman pines. The majority of these men died in the liberation of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, codenamed Operation Husky
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
, (July 10 to August 17, 1943); in the landings in the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
Area, codenamed Operation Avalanche
Allied invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...
, (September 9, 1943) and the heavy fighting northward; in the landings, codenamed Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
, at Anzio and Nettuno and expansion of the beachhead (January 22, 1944 to May 1944); and in air and naval support in the regions.
A wide central mall leads to the memorial, rich in works of art and architecture, expressing America's remembrance of the dead. It consists of a chapel to the south, a peristyle, and a map room to the north. On the white marble walls of the chapel are engraved the names of 3,095 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The map room contains a bronze relief map and four fresco maps depicting the military operations in Sicily and Italy. At each end of the memorial are ornamental Italian gardens.
The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
How to get there
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery lies at the north edge of the town of NettunoNettuno
Nettuno is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy, 60 kilometers south of Rome. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune...
, which is immediately east of Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
, 38 miles (61.2 km) south of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The cemetery can be reached by car from Rome along the Via Pontina (highway 148). Drive south approximately 37 miles (59.5 km) and exit at Campoverde Nord/Nettuno. Turn right to Nettuno, continuing 5½ miles to the cemetery. A visitor who is not familiar with Nettuno should consider downloading a map for directions within Nettuno. There is hourly train service from Rome Termini railway station to Nettuno, where taxicabs can be hired. In the alternative, travelers can walk from the train station (taking via Cavour to via Santa Maria) and reach the cemetery within about 20 minutes. There are numerous hotels in Anzio and Nettuno.