500 cassino

Benedictine monastery. Perhaps the most widely known fact about the Battle of Monte Cassino is the destruction of the formidable Benedictine monastery that loomed over the town spread out on the plain below.

Perceiving this evil attack on his life, Benedict left these wayward and undisciplined monks in order to establish a new monastery. Journeying southeast to Monte Cassino, Benedict destroyed a pagan temple dedicated to Apollo, and upon its ruins built the monastery of Monte Cassino.

Allied Forces assumed that the Germans were using Monte Cassino as a fortified position and observation post. Even ambiguous information regarding the German's location was believed to be valid.

By the 10 11th centuries Monte Cassino became the most famous cultural, educational, and medical center of Europe with a great library in Medicine and other sciences. Many physicians came there for medical and other knowledge.