Florence American Cemetery — Attraction in San Casciano in Val di Pesa

Moving, beautiful, peaceful and educational! We visited the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial on 10/5/2023 while traveling between Florence and the Chianti region. We were on a small group tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) and our guide, Giacomo Tabliafereo, asked if we wanted to make an uncheduled stop at the memorial. Although we were all tired after a long day in Florence, we agreed to stop and ALL of us were glad we did. The grounds are impeccably maintained at the base mountainous vineyards and forest and the gently sloping cemetery, dotted with 3,400 white, military crosses, marking the graves of soldiers from every state in the US, was moving. The wall, "Tablets of the Missing", permeates the sadness that is carried by families of those MIA. Can't remember the docent's name but she did a great job explaining how the US Fifth Army and British Eighth Army, supported by the Mediterranean Allied Forces, fought a long campaign to liberate Italy. My husband assisted with evening ritual of taking down and folding the flag, a touching tribute to his father and all vets. Definitely a place to visit while...

The Florence American cemetery is a beautifully built, and meticulously kept memorial for the thousands of American service members who are either buried there, or whose names are inscribed on the wall of the “Missing In Action” at the memorial on the top of the hill. Like the Punch Bowl at Pearl Harbor and the cemetery above Omaha beach in Normandy, France, this cemetery speaks to the on-going devotion of the American Battle Monuments Commission to honor our nations fallen heroes. On the day of our visit, cemetery administrator Eryth Zecher displayed professional courtesy and compassion in assisting us with honoring our fallen hero. She provided us with a small American and Italian flag, and conducted a “sanding” ceremony on the cross of our 88th Division soldier. It is comforting for us to know that Army Staff Sergeant John Hastings Junior, is being kept...

If you are visiting Florence or Tuscany, please stop by this beautiful memorial to those brave soldiers who lost their lives defending the lives and rights of others. My husband and I visited in October and we came away with such pride that the US takes kind and loving care of our fallen. The superintendent of the cemetery came out to greet us and explained the history of the Cemetery. He and his staff are available for tours and so look forward to visitors. Please stop by even if it is only for 5 minutes, I guarantee you will leave grateful...