'English Cemetery' in Siracusa, Sicily

Unsuspectingly, the cemetery of The British fallen soldiers in Operation Husky*, 1943 Sicily during the Second World War is placed in Siracusa. Do you have a grandfather or great-grandfather that served? Located here in Siracusa, Sicily is the burial ground for the dead of World War II.

Hotel Algila Ortigia Charme - 'Operation Husky', Siracusa's 'English Cemetery'.

The 'English Cemetery' as it is known to the locals, is open daily from 9-5, there is the possibility to locate your missing relative as many have already searched, found and visited. THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES hold the key to this.

929 soldiers are laid to rest here and the site is monitored and kept to the highest of maintenance.

SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, Siracusa

The graves are from WW2 but also home to a solitary soldier from WW1. Mostly from the air division, the cemetery holds tribute to the July landings. Losing life to unexpected strong winds. Very different looking from the traditional Sicilian cemeteries, this Siracusan burial ground resembles the traditions of those found in the USA or UK. Linear and uniform, the headstones lay beyond a wrought iron gate that separates the passing traffic with the men who lost their lives abroad.

The CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) commissioned the burial ground as part of the tribute to the 1,700,000 fallen soldiers. Very British in style, the grounds are filled with flowers and horticulture, designed intentionally for the soldiers of all rankings and faiths that served. The epitaphs commemorating the names and origin of the soldiers where known

English Cemetery: Viale Ermocrate, 119, 96100 Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

Visiting is not the easiest as parking holds a challenge but street parking can be found. If you would like to visit then arrangements can be made with the Hotel Algilia Ortigia Charme reception team. Private transfers available.

Where: Viale Ermocrate, 119, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy

**The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II, in which the Allies took the island of Sicily, to remove the air and sea potential of the Axis powers from the island. Doing this would give the Allies access to the Mediterranean Sea for their own ships