Florence American Cemetery And Memorial, Italy

Its Certosa-Florence exit is two miles to the north. There is excellent train service to Florence from the principal cities in Italy. It is also served by some of the international trains. The "SITA" bus station provides frequent bus service along Via Cassia. There is a bus stop conveniently located just outside the cemetery gate. The site covers 70 acres, chiefly on the west side of the Greve River. The wooded hills which frame its west limit rise several hundred feet. Between the two entrance buildings a bridge leads to the burial area with the headstones of 4,402 American military dead, representing thirty-nine percent of the U.S. Fifth Army burials originally made between Rome and the Alps. Most died in the fighting which occurred after the capture of Rome in June 1944. Included among them are casualties of the heavy fighting in the Apennines shortly before the war's end. On May 2, 1945, the enemy troops in northern Italy surrendered. At Florence, the headstones are arrayed in symmetrical curved rows upon the hillside. Above the burial area on the topmost of three broad terraces stands the memorial marked by a tall pylon surmounted by a large sculptured figure. The memorial has two open atria or courts joined by the Tablets of the Missing upon which are inscribed the names of 1,409 Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country and who rest in unknown graves. The atrium at the south end of the Tablets of the Missing serves as a forecourt to the chapel which is decorated with marble and mosaic. The north atrium contains the marble operations maps recording the achievements of the American Armed Forces in this region during World War II. The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 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 Visitorsї Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.