Cimitero di Guerra Americano di Nettuno (Sicily-Rome American Cemetery)
On the north edge of Nettuno, 77 acres of pine-shaded lawn hold 7,861 white marble headstones arranged in long, gentle arcs — Latin crosses and Stars of David standing in rows so precise they seem to breathe together. The cemetery opened as a battlefield site on 24 January 1944, two days after Allied forces came ashore at Anzio, and the dead were still being brought in from temporary graves across the region long after the guns went quiet.
The memorial at the far end of the grounds contains a chapel whose white marble walls carry the names of 3,095 servicemen still listed as missing, and a map room with four fresco maps tracing the campaigns through Sicily and up the Italian peninsula. Paul Manship's bronze sculpture 'Brothers in Arms' stands at the center of it all, set within a frame designed by Eric Gugler.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to mention the Sanding Ceremony: staff apply damp beach sand from the original landing zones to the recessed inscriptions on the grave markers, then wipe it clean so the names stand out in relief. It takes a moment to understand what you're looking at, and then it doesn't leave you.
The story behind Cimitero di Guerra Americano di Nettuno (Sicily-Rome American Cemetery)
The cemetery began on 24 January 1944, two days after Operation Shingle put Allied troops on the beaches at Anzio and Nettuno. In the months and years that followed, the American Graves Registration Service reinterred remains from temporary burial sites across the region here. Among the 7,861 dead are 25 pairs of brothers, 17 women, and two Medal of Honor recipients. Henry T. Waskow, killed at the Battle of San Pietro in 1943, lies here; so does Allen Tupper Brown, stepson of Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall, killed near Campoleone in 1944.
The permanent cemetery was dedicated in 1956, designed by the firm Gugler, Kimball and Husted with landscaping by Ralph Griswold. The fresco maps inside the memorial were designed by Carlo Ciampaglia and executed by Florentine artist Leonetto Tintori. A visitor centre with interpretive exhibits opened in May 2014. The site is administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Good to know
Hourly trains run from Rome to Nettuno; from the station, turn right, then right again onto Via Santa Maria and walk about 700 metres through two roundabouts. Open daily except 25 December and 1 January, 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. depending on season. Admission is free. Allow at least an hour.
Nettuno sits on the Tyrrhenian coast and follows a Mediterranean pattern: summers are warm and dry, winters mild but occasionally wet. Spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for walking the grounds at length.
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What travellers say about Cimitero di Guerra Americano di Nettuno (Sicily-Rome American Cemetery)
Absolutely stunning, underrated area in Italy. One of the prettiest places in Italy. The gardens and cementary is beautifully kept and landscaped, which most attractions in Italy can't boast. Every American (if not everyone) should visit. Very moving!
This is a very moving place to visit. Extremely well cared for grounds and very good visitors center with helpful staff. Unfortunately, we did not allow enough time, 2 hours here would be perfect. Combined with a visit to the Beachhead Museum in Anzio, and you have a meaningful day trip from Roma. Count on a 15-minute walk to the train station.
I am so proud to be an American. I had the chance to visit Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial last week and was amazed. It is such a beautiful place. I took the train from Rome to Nettuno. About 90 min train ride through the beautiful Italian countryside. The walk to the cemetery took me about 20 minutes. The visitors center is stunning. I have been to several American cemeteries and they do a tremendous job here with the history and memorials to various soldiers. The cemetery itself is stunning. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. Very, very clean. I love the Chapel and gardens. The pond with trees and a memorial at the center is very peaceful. I am so glad I took the time to visit this cemetery and memorial. It made me proud. Especially with the fact a few of my Uncles served in WWII (American side) and my grandparents came to the United States from Sicily (San Cataldo).
Amazing site of remembrance in honour of the brave Americans that layed down their lives for our liberty today 🙏 We visited while anchored just outside the marina at Nettuno ⛵ The site is kept immaculate proving that if you make nice things they will be better looked after 😃 Such a lovely picturesque place and wonderfully designed 🙏. Make sure to visit the visitors centre before you walk around as it adds to your understanding of this great place 💯 Check us out on YouTube ♥️ Good Deeds Sailing ♥️
My dad survived N Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Received the Silver Star at the Battle of the Rapido River. He witnessed many of the men buried here, in fact, crawled over body parts during the Battle of the Rapido River. He never talked about it, I didn’t hear what he went through until I drove him to his 50th Army reunion. My sister’s family traveled to Rome to meet the Pope, and offered to pay for my dad to join them. He turned them down, my sister could understand why he would turn down an opportunity to meet the Pope since he was extremely religious. I understood why, the memories it would bring back. Bless all those who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families.
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