Italy 1943–1945
San Benedetto Po — the 10th Mountain crossing
River crossing
The story
The first Allied crossing of the Po was made here by the US 10th Mountain Division on 23 April 1945, in assault boats, the day after reaching the river. Within days the division was pushing up Lake Garda towards the Alps. The town itself grew round the great Benedictine abbey of Polirone.
What to look for
Stand on the embankment and picture boats pushing off under sporadic fire; then visit the abbey square.
Plan your visit
About 1 hr 15 min west of Ferrara; worth it only on a long trip or if continuing towards Mantua and Verona.
Nearby sites
- The Po at Pontelagoscuro, Ferrara · 56 km
- Sacrario dei Partigiani, Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna · 69 km
- Polish War Cemetery, Bologna (San Lazzaro) · 74 km
- Sacrario dei Caduti, Marzabotto · 81 km
- Argenta Gap War Cemetery · 84 km
- Monte Sole Historical Park — Casaglia · 85 km
All 96 sites in Italy 1943–1945 →
Into Europe: Italy 1943–1945
A free field guide for your phone: the route, the maps and the stories built in, even with no signal. The places of the Allied campaign in Italy, from the Sicily landings of July 1943 through Salerno, the Winter Line, Ortona, Cassino and Anzio, Rome, the Gothic Line and the final battles on the Senio and the Po in April 1945.
Open the guide