Tuesday 28 September 2010

my new home



If you have all been wondering where on earth I have been for the past two weeks or so, the precise location is in fact Cassino, Italy. A small town in central Italy an hour between each Rome & Naples. I am here on the ERASMUS programme, a life long learning programme set up to give university students the opportunity to experience different cultures and learn new languages.

Unfortunately Cassino is not known for its university achievements but instead for its world famous “Abbazia” Monte Cassino. Myself not being a firm believer of anything religious I am not one to get excited about travelling up a mountain to see a famous monastery, however the landscape and not to mention the history behind Monte Cassino is phenomenal. 



The Abbey was founded in 529 and is situated at 519 meters above sea level, It has suffered years of destruction and has been reconstructed numerous times. In February 1944 the Abbey was flattened by the Americans & British after hearing the Germans were using the Abbey as hiding, unfortunately the Americans were wrong and many civilians were killed after the Germans had advised them to hide in the Abbey as it would be safe and wouldn’t be affected by battles.  This progressed into a long term battle throughout of the whole of Cassino.




The restoration was carried out from 1948 to 1956, it is said to be as close to the original building as possible. The Cassino War Cemeteries are the largest WWII Cemeteries in Italy. The cemetery contains over 5000 grave markers of soldiers that died in battles against the Germany arm.  It is the final resting place of the British, New Zealand, Canadian, Indian, Gurkha, South African, French, Italian, Polish, German and American casualties.




51 comments:

Winnie said...

Looks gorgeous!! You're so lucky you get to spend a year in such gorgeous scenery. Definitely make the most of it and can't wait for more posts!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful area!

Diary of a Young Designer said...

My gosh this place is insanely gorgeous!! And you get to spend a year there??? Gosh make the best of it ok dear!!! <3

xo
Sophie

Naomi Dixon said...

I am so jealous! I'm not even at university yet and I've already looked at the erasmus programme :')
I can't wait to do it cause by the looks of it it looks awesome!
The pictures you've taken are eyegasming. Have a great time! X

Unknown said...

oh i went there about three years ago and i LOVED it! this abbey is amazing!! if you come in naples one day let me know it (i live there!) ;)

ediot said...

thanks for sharing these photos- what a place! i love all these shots. hope you have a great time there darling.
take care and have a lovely week

xx

Trivia said...

Amazing pictures and nice story, bad but interesting. *

Unknown said...

Wow darl that really does look stunning. Looks like you've (eventually) met some nice folk though :) When does your course actually start? I'm assuming you'll have lectures or uni days of some description? jazzy ♥

Tiffany Kadani said...

Oh wow! Amazing and such history. I am completely in love with that place now.

michelle_ said...

this place is beautiful ! i can tell how history there is to this lovely scene !
i wanna go there too :)

Liana said...

wow those photos are gorgeous! i am so jealous i would love to travel and learn other cultures! im not particularly religious myself but that monastery sounds pretty interesting :)

Bella HaHay said...

So you are there as exchange student or something? The architect is beautiful. It looks more like a preserved palace than an ex-war zone. :)

Anonymous said...

You're living in such a beautiful city, and it has such an interesting (but tragic) history.

S
http://notjustmedical.wordpress.com

Onyinye FaFi Obi said...

Wow.. Beautiful scenery..
You are so lucky.!

www.fashionphoenix06.blogspot.com

Daniella said...

wow great pictures!! love it!!! following you now, wanna follow me back?? :)

daisychain said...

oh my, how stunning!

Shopgirl said...

Oh WOW! It looks amazing. I'm sure you'll be having a fabulous time. My ERASMUS year in Italy was the best year of my life - still is. Nothing has come close yet to the 12 months I spent studying out there! Enjoy! :) xx

SabinePsynopsis said...

Your posts are always so wonderfully put together. Hope you are settling in okay, Adele. I bet when we are suffering from cold, grey weather here in the UK you'll be double glad to be in Southern Italy. xo

Ani. said...

I love looking at churches, loved it even before I decided to study theology. There's always something special about buildings in different countries!

It looks so pretty out there!

Anna Leo said...

Italy is a lovely place. I hope we will have the chance to meet each other! :D

Arini Desianti Parawi said...

i love this place..looks so beautiful!!

come and visit my site, if you like..you can follow me.
just tell me if you want me to follow you back :)

THE SECRET LIFE OF "D"

in Love&Light
Queen D

Catarina said...

Good luck with your Erasmus year! Unfortunately I didn't grab the opportunity while I was in Uni, so I wish lots of luck to all that do.
x

WeShop said...

Hey kid! This place looks incredible. Good to see you rocking the aviator jacket over there. xx
http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

Preity lama Tamang said...

Beautiful pictures....Ur so lucky!!!

this free bird said...

Wow!! This looks so completely amazing!! The scenery almost doesn't look real it is that gorgeous. I remember Italy fondly in my heart and hope to return someday...would most def want to see this place!

Enjoy your time there and more pics pleeeease! :)

xoxo,
Carrie

VIPXO said...

These are such lovely photos! I hope you're having a lovely time xo

Vicki said...

I cant believe you live in italy now! how mad is that! cant wait to see more on the place and of course hear how you are getting on! :) ps love the wildfox jumper you bought in your previous post :) x

Darling xoxo said...

Oh my gosh! I travelled to Monte Cassino last Easter & Nobody has EVER heard of it. Such a beautiful place even for non religious people. The views are just SOMETHING else! Hope you enjoy your time there :) xoxo

The High Heel Times said...

Erasmus is a great idea, it helped me to go abroad too! I'm quite sure that choosing Italy won't turn out to be a mistake, have fun there!

HiFashion said...

Looks like such a great opportunity. You're so lucky. Can't wait to read about all your experiences.

Jessie said...

aww I want to go there! You are so lucky. Those pics totally gorgeous.

+ I love your blog so I'm following you! Follow me back if you like :)

jessie xx

City Girl (EC1) said...

Wow, stunning photographs and fascinating history! Enjoy :) xx
http://citygirldiariesec1.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to read about your adventures in your new city. It looks so beautiful.

Also I absolutely love your wildfox top. Amazing!!!

Dena

Gemma said...

It looks like a wonderful place...sob, I've never been there :/

Cheap is Chic

Anonymous said...

These pictures are gorgeous! and such a beautiful place enjoy!

xoxo
Miss Neira

FashionJazz said...

Gorgeous place hun!!You are very lucky, enjoy! xxxx

Nicola said...

Wow, wonderful. It looks beautiful, out of this world even! Enjoy.

x

k said...

erasmus in italy!!you are one lucky girl!


http://fashionablylonely.blogspot.com/

StuddedLilly said...

sooo beautiful and such history! i hope you're having a great time there dear :)
xx

Reena Rai said...

Wow, looks like a gorgeous place my darling! lucky you! Cant wait to hear about ur adventures x

Anonymous said...

Great photos! I passed through Cassino years ago, traveling from L'Aquila (where I was living) on my way to Naples! Have a great time on Erasmus xxx

www.fashiondevotion.com

Kira Aderne said...

wow, so nice! Congratulations! Your new home is a true dream...Italy is a dream for me, my next destination in Europe, for sure!

Love,

Kira

Sassi said...

great pics!
X

Hélène Heath said...

These are absolutely breathtaking. Sooo amazing that you are doing erasmus, such an incredible chance! I hope all is well with you :-) xxx

Anna Katrina said...

it looks gorgeous enjoy your time there love


stop by sometime<3
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X said...

Gorgeous!

agitarsimonroe.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Uau! Lucky! I'm thinking about going in erasmus next semester!
Have a wonderful time, that is a once in a lifetime experience!

xoxo

Sara

http://theredcurry.wordpress.com

SabinePsynopsis said...

Adele, I bet you are terribly busy with moving and settling in to the new surroundings; but when you have a minute... I left you a little tag. xoxo

la petite fashionista said...

enjoy your time in italy! it sounds like such an amazing and life changing experience. please keep us posted on your adventures on your blog :)

Debbie said...

Duuuude. It looks like you're hugging Kristen Stewart. Lol! You are sooo cute, I'm super jealous of your current location. Looks like it'll be so much fun! Eeek!

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