Anzio and Nettuno Allied Landing Anniversary

A memory that spans the city

The Anzio and Nettuno Allied Landing Anniversary is the major commemoration held every year around January 22nd, where the two coastal towns in Lazio remember the Allied forces landing in 1944. Organized by the Municipality of Anzio in collaboration with the Municipality of Nettuno, with the participation of Italian and foreign civil and military authorities, the event is not merely an institutional ceremony but a true journey of shared memory involving citizens, veterans, veterans' associations, and thousands of students.

Operation Shingle

On the night between January 21st and 22nd, 1944, Anglo-American troops landed on the beaches of Anzio and Nettuno as part of Operation Shingle, aiming to bypass the German defensive line at Cassino and open the road to Rome. The bridgehead turned into one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Italian campaign: for months, the civilian population was forced to evacuate, and the territory suffered severe destruction. The numerous war cemeteries in the area, from the Commonwealth's Beachhead War Cemetery to the large American Cemetery in Nettuno, still preserve the memory of those who fell today.

Official Ceremonies

The heart of the anniversary is the morning of January 22nd, with a sequence of ceremonies moving between symbolic locations: wreath-laying at the war cemeteries, the tribute at the War Memorial in Piazza Garibaldi in Anzio, and the celebration in Piazza Cesare Battisti in Nettuno. Representatives of the Italian Government, embassies of Allied countries, and the Armed Forces participate in the honors, in a moment of reflection that draws a large popular turnout every year.

A Widespread Program

Surrounding the ceremonies is a dense calendar of cultural initiatives: exhibitions of scale models and historical relics, book presentations, film screenings, theatrical and musical performances, and conferences with historians and witnesses. Ample space is dedicated to schools, with educational projects that pass on the memory of the displacement and the value of peace to new generations.

In Anzio, on the Roman Coast

Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea about sixty kilometers from Rome, Anzio is one of the most well-known destinations on the Lazio coast, famous for its port, beaches, and the ruins of Nero's imperial villa. Experiencing the Landing Anniversary means discovering a city that has made memory a profound trait of its identity, in a unique blend of history, sea, and civic testimony.