The Abbey of Monte Cassino is located about an hour and a half south of Rome at an altitude of 1,700 feet. It was the first monastery built by St. Benedict and established the Benedictine Order. During the centuries that followed it was destroyed and rebuilt four times. In 1944 it was destroyed by Allied bombing in a failed effort to end the long and bloody battle to control the valley below. In this photograph, taken after fighting ended, Monuments Men walk up the hill to assess damage to the Abbey.

On the day of my visit it was a beautifully clear November morning with virtually unlimited visibility as we drove up the hill. But from the top, the magnificent day gave way to a somber and stark reminder of events 60 years ago as I looked down on the adjacent cemeteries and the seemingly endless number of grave stones of soldiers who died trying to win the battle of Monte Cassino.

When the Abbey was reconstructed after the war, as much of the existing building material as possible was utilized. Even the statues, such as the one I photographed, were literally cemented back together, piece by piece. If you examine the photo closely, especially the Madonna’s right hand, you can see the cracks and hairline fractures where repairs occurred.