Gradara War Cemetery

• Country Italy
• Total identified casualties 1188 Find these casualties
• Identified casualties from Second World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 43.94113, Longitude: 12.78246

Location information

Gradara War Cemetery is situated in the Commune of Gradara in the Province of Pesaro. It is located about 1.5 kilometres south of the SS16, midway between Pesaro and Riccione. Take the exit Cattolica from the autostrada A14. At the roundabout take the first exit following the sign to Gradara. Proceed on via Malpasso seconda and at the follwing roundabout take the second exit following the sign to Pesaro and proceed on the SS16. After the village of Case Badioli and before the village of Colombarone turn right and then follow the CWGC signs. Cemetery address: Via Pesaro s.n - 61012 Gradara (PU) Marche. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 43.941062, Longitude: 12.782378.

Visiting information

ARRIVAL

Routes to the cemetery are signposted.

PARKING

Parking is at the bottom of the cemetery, at the side of the main road and is close to the staff building.

The surface of the car park is flat and gravel.

ACCESS, LAYOUT AND MAIN ENTRANCE

The cemetery is large and rectangular shaped, it is built over eight terraces that climb up the side of a steep hillside from the bottom of the cemetery up to the top terrace.

On either side of the cemetery are flights of steps that climb uphill to each horizontal terrace area.

The cemetery steps are stone and steep. Some flights are built into steeply sloping ground, open on both sides.

At the main entrance to the cemetery are two metal gates approximately two meters wide (1 metre sections). There are six stone steps leading up to the gates.

The Register Box is located inside a small stone shelter just inside the main gates. Two steps lead up to the register from the pathway leading into the cemetery.

The Stone of Remembrance is at the top of the cemetery, in the centre of the top terrace.

The Cross of Sacrifice is at the bottom of the cemetery, close to the main entrance, in a sloped grass area.

To the left of the Cross of Sacrifice is the Register Box, built into a small stone shelter.

There are seating areas with stone benches located in and around the cemetery, at the ends of some of the terraces and at the very top and bottom of the cemetery.

ALTERNATIVE ACCESS

There are no alternative entrances to the cemetery.

The cemetery comprises of eight terraces running horizontally across a very steep hillside.

The only access to each terrace is by climbing steep stone steps.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The cemetery is permanently open.

History information

On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians who then re-entered the war on the Allied side.

Following the fall of Rome to the Allies in June 1944, the German retreat became ordered and successive stands were made on a series of defensive positions known as the Trasimene, Arezzo, Arno and Gothic Lines.

The site for the cemetery was chosen in November 1944 and it contains the graves of casualties incurred during the advance from Ancona to Rimini, which broke the German's heavily defended Gothic Line, and in the heavy fighting around Rimini, which was taken by the Allies on 21 September 1944.

Gradara War Cemetery contains 1,191 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. There is also one Belgian war grave.