How to get around Cassino

Cassino is easy to reach and awkward to complete, and the split is between the town and the mountain.

The town is on the Via Casilina between Rome and Naples and has its own station on the main line between the two, which makes it one of the more accessible destinations in southern Lazio without a car.

The town itself is flat, post-war and laid out on a regular plan, because it was completely rebuilt after 1944. It is comfortable to walk and unremarkable to look at.

The abbey is the problem. Montecassino stands 520 metres above the town, and the road up is a long series of hairpin bends. There is no walking route that is sensible as transport, and public transport up is limited — most visitors drive or take a tour bus.

The war cemeteries are spread across the valley floor around the town and need a car to cover more than one of them.

Two Italian rules apply here as everywhere in the country. A ticket bought from a kiosk or machine must be validated on board before the journey starts, or an inspector will issue an on-the-spot fine. And driving into a historic centre usually needs a ZTL pass, with the boundary marked in black on a yellow sign.

By train. Cassino is on the Rome–Naples line and has its own station, which makes it a feasible trip from either city.

By road. The Via Casilina runs through the town between Rome and Naples, and the A1 motorway passes close by. Cassino sits where the Liri valley narrows, which is why every route south has always come through here.

Up to the abbey. Montecassino is 520 metres above the town and the ascent is a sustained series of hairpins. Drive, or take an organised bus. Walking up is a hill walk, not a transfer.

Around the town. Flat and walkable. The centre is entirely post-war, rebuilt after the near-total destruction of 1944, and laid out accordingly.

The war cemeteries. These are distributed around the valley floor; visiting more than one in a day effectively requires a car.

Onward. The town is well connected to the Gulf of Gaeta to the south-west and to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise national park inland.

Mobility note. The rebuilt town is one of the easier historic-centre substitutes in Lazio for step-free movement, precisely because it is modern. The abbey is a different matter.

Validate your ticket. If you buy a ticket from a kiosk or machine, you must validate it on public transport before you start your journey. Officials patrol and issue an on-the-spot fine if your ticket is not validated.

ZTL. You need a pass to drive into the historic centre of many Italian towns in a private or hire car. The boundaries are marked with the letters ZTL in black on a yellow sign, and a camera reads your plate.

Strikes. Transport strikes in Italy are often called at short notice, which matters most if your visit depends on a single connection.

Taxis. Use only officially licensed taxis, which carry a taxi sign on the roof and a company name and number on the side.