The Montecassino Monastery was founded by St. Benedict about 529 of the Christian Era on the remnants of a preexisting Roman fortification of the municipium Casinum. The heathen cult was still practised on this mountain site in the temple of Apollo and in a nearby holy grove to which a sacrifice area was adjoining.

Montecassino became famous for the prodigious life and the Sepulchre of its Founder. Through the ages, the abbey was looked upon as a place of holiness, culture and art for which it became renowned on world-wide level.

In 883 it was taken by the Moslems and only returned to Christian monastic life in the middle of the 10th century.

The abbey was the site of a fierce battle in May 1944, leaving many Polish soldiers who fought against the Germans to die at this place. The cemetery was built to honor them. The commanding general, Wladyslaw Anders, died in London in 1970 but had requested to be buried with his soldiers at Montecassino.

Cassino is in Lazio, very close to Arpino, the home of Cicero, so we had to continue our journey via Arpino.