Out now in the August issue of Hemispheres, the in-flight magazine of United Airlines, my feature “The Road Led to Rome” was a year in the making—several years, really, if you consider how long my family has been talking about this trip.
What an amazing trip! My grandfather was stationed in Italy from December 1946 to November 1947 when he was 18. He recently passed away and in going through his things we found all of the letter he wrote to my grandma during his year there (he left three weeks after they had met!). I knew he was at first based in caserta at the palace but discovered he then moved on to leghorn which research shows me was Livorno. The letters and photos document his travels and experiences as well as the country in the immediate postwar period. Would love to do a similar trip with my whole family!
Yes, visiting the attic of the Reggia di Caserta was definitely one of the most memorable parts of the trip! Learning about the Fosse Ardeatine and seeing all the tombstones in Nettuno were very emotional too.
What an amazing trip! My grandfather was stationed in Italy from December 1946 to November 1947 when he was 18. He recently passed away and in going through his things we found all of the letter he wrote to my grandma during his year there (he left three weeks after they had met!). I knew he was at first based in caserta at the palace but discovered he then moved on to leghorn which research shows me was Livorno. The letters and photos document his travels and experiences as well as the country in the immediate postwar period. Would love to do a similar trip with my whole family!
You should! It’s a part of history that isn’t talked about much in Italy, but when I started digging, I found all these little museums and monuments.
So many incredible stories and emotional moments here, but that attic in Caserta looks particularly unforgettable. Wonderful post!
Yes, visiting the attic of the Reggia di Caserta was definitely one of the most memorable parts of the trip! Learning about the Fosse Ardeatine and seeing all the tombstones in Nettuno were very emotional too.