• Beyond history, beyond textbooks, there's another truth that no one has told until today. 

I come from a family of hoteliers. Over the years, I've collected incredible stories about the Battle of Cassino - left behind by veterans, their relatives, and many historians who have stayed at my hotel. I've become a passionate storyteller, eager to share precious experiences and knowledge passed down orally and never written in history books.

Piecing together fragments of stories, testimonies, objects, maps, and other elements of memory, I've built a narrative that begins in the small museum inside my hotel and leads to those unique places around Montecassino that I've rediscovered through my research.

1944: The Other Side of Truth is a unique experience created by our team to immerse you in history and relive, step by step, the events of the Battle of Monte Cassino from an unprecedented perspective.

A weekend where you'll be a guest at Hotel La Pace and, together with me, travel back in time on an emotional trek along history's pathways - following the footsteps of soldiers and civilians who lived through the horror of war on their own skin.

An emotional experience. An introspective journey. A dive into the past to understand the present and build a better future.

Book your time-travel weekend here, including hotel accommodation with breakfast, walking tours, excursions, and aperitivo with history storytelling.

Discover my territory following the hidden trails that were the stage of that long 1944 battle:

Come with me. I'm waiting for you. Pino Valente

• ITINERARY - DAY 1: Immersion into Living History

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Welcome & Historical Context

Check-in at Hotel La Pace with Storytelling Introduction
Your journey begins at Hotel La Pace, where you'll receive a warm welcome along with your personal Journey Storyboard - a unique map and narrative guide that will accompany you throughout the experience. This isn't just a hotel check-in; it's your Gate to 1944.

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Gustav Wine Experience

"Aperitivo with History" - Storytelling & Wine Tasting
Settle into the intimate atmosphere of Hotel La Pace's historical salon for an extraordinary evening. While savoring carefully selected local delicacies and our exclusive Gustav Wine, you'll hear untold stories of the Battle of Cassino. Through original documents, rare photographs, and personal testimonies collected over decades, discover perspectives of the battlefield that history books have never revealed. "The Gustav Wine itself tells a story: its label, personally designed by Pino Valente, symbolizes the transformation of these hills from the barbed wire of the Gustav Line in 1944 to today's flourishing vineyards - from division to cultivation, from war to peace."

8:00 PM | Evening at Leisure

Dinner in Cassino's Historic Center
We'll recommend our favorite authentic restaurants within walking distance, where you can enjoy traditional cuisine in establishments that have their own stories to tell about the town's rebirth.

• ITINERARY - DAY 2: Walking in the Footsteps of History

7:30 AM | Breakfast & Preparation

Fortify yourself with a hearty breakfast and prepare for an emotional journey through time.

8:30 AM | Departure for the Sacred Mountains

Begin the Historical Trek with Expert Hiking Guide
Your experienced guide will lead you along paths once walked by soldiers and civilians, where every stone has a story to tell.

9:00 AM - 10:45 AM | The Cavendish Road

Following the Allied Advance Route
Trek along the historic Cavendish Road, the strategic military route carved into the mountainside by Allied forces. As you walk this challenging path, you'll understand the enormous difficulties faced by soldiers advancing under fire, carrying supplies up these steep slopes.

11:00 AM | The Białecki Tank Memorial

Silent Witness to Sacrifice
Pause at the preserved remains of a Polish tank, a powerful reminder of the armored battles that raged across these hills. This isn't just military hardware - it's a monument to courage and determination.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Hidden Trails & Untold Stories

Mountain Paths Through the Battlefield
Continue through lesser-known trails where you'll discover foxholes, observation posts, and defensive positions still visible after 80 years, each telling its own tale of survival and sacrifice.

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM | Domek Doktora - The Doctor's House

Historical Lunch Stop with Packed Meal
At this important temporary frontline medical site, enjoy your specially prepared picnic lunch, immersed in history. During this break, your guide will tell you how a heroic doctor tried "at all costs" to help soldiers fighting on the front lines under impossible conditions. The "Doctor's House" offers both physical nourishment and food for thought: a moment to reflect on humanity amidst the chaos of war.

1:30 PM | Hill 593 - The Obelisk Monument

The Obelisk Monument
Stand at the crucial Hill 593 (Quota 593), where the Polish obelisk monument marks one of the most fiercely contested positions of the entire Italian Campaign. From here, grasp the strategic importance of Monte Cassino and understand why this battle changed the course of World War II.

2:00 PM | Descent Through Memory

The Path of Remembrance
Follow the winding paths down the mountain, each turn revealing new vistas and stories of the international forces who fought here - Polish, British, American, Indian, New Zealand, and many others united in common cause.

2:45 PM | Polish II Corps Memorial Museum

For our freedom and yours...
Visit this moving tribute to the II Polish Corp of General Anders who ultimately captured Monte Cassino. Through personal effects, documents, and testimonies, connect with the individual stories behind the statistics.

3:30 PM | The Abbey of Montecassino

Symbol of Destruction and Rebirth
Conclude your mountain journey at the rebuilt Abbey - destroyed in 1944, reconstructed stone by stone as a symbol of hope and renewal. Here, at the spiritual heart of the battle, reflect on the cost of war and the power of reconstruction.

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Return Journey & Hotel Arrival

Coach Transfer and Day's Reflection
Descend from the abbey in a comfortable coach, allowing time to process the profound experiences of the day. Upon arrival at Hotel La Pace, take time to rest and reorganize the historical materials, maps, and memories you've collected during your journey. Our staff will be at your disposal to help you organize your notes and impressions from this emotional trek through history. Before you head out for the evening, our team will gladly recommend another special restaurant for dinner, ensuring you discover a different taste of Cassino's culinary traditions.

• ITINERARY - DAY 3: Farwell or Deeper Discovery

Morning 

Breakfast and Shared Reflections - Begin your final morning with a leisurely breakfast, where spontaneous conversations often bloom among fellow travelers. This is a precious moment for sharing impressions, exchanging contacts, and discovering unexpected connections. Many guests find that the bonds formed through this shared historical journey extend well beyond the weekend.

Late Morning | Personalized Departures or Extended Exploration

For Those Departing: Take advantage of our flexible late check-out to prepare for your journey home at your own pace. Our staff will assist with any final questions about the sites you've visited or help you locate specific historical resources to continue your research at home.

For Those with Deeper Connections: We understand that some guests discover personal links to these battlefields - perhaps a relative who fought here, or a particular unit they've been researching. Hotel La Pace offers the possibility to extend your stay with customized experiences:

• Private guided visits to specific battle sites relevant to your family history
• Access to local archives and historical societies
• Meetings with local historians and World War II experts
• Visits to Commonwealth, American, or German military cemeteries
• In-depth exploration of specific tactical positions or unit movements

Farewell Exchange

Before departing, join Pino Valente and the Hotel La Pace team for a final gathering. Share your contact information with fellow history enthusiasts, exchange book recommendations, and perhaps plan future reunions. Many of our guests return annually, turning this experience into a personal pilgrimage.

Special Note for Researchers and Family Historians: If you've discovered that your family's story intersects with the Battle of Cassino, we can arrange extended stays with specialized support for genealogical and historical research. Our network of local contacts, including the Cassino MIA 1944 Association, can provide invaluable assistance in uncovering personal histories buried in these sacred mountains.