Domek Doktora

On the slopes of Montecassino, near Quota 593, known as Monte Calvario, there is a modest stone house known as the "Doctor's House" or "Domek Doktora". During the Battle of Montecassino in 1944, this building became a crucial point for the medical operations of the 2nd Polish Corps, serving as a forward dressing station for the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division.

Built in the mid-19th century, the house originally served as a hermitage for the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Montecassino. Later, it became the home of the Pittiglio family, with Giuseppe Pittiglio, the gardener of the abbey, as the last resident before the conflict. During the battle, the strategic position of the house, located on San Comeo Street at the foot of Monte Calvario, made it ideal as a forward dressing station for wounded Polish soldiers. Despite its direct exposure to enemy fire from the abbey and surrounding heights, the "Doctor's House" represented an essential refuge for the treatment of the injured. After the war, in 1945, soldiers from the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division rebuilt the building, placing a commemorative plaque above the main entrance to honor its role during the conflict.

The "Doctor's House" has become a symbol of the sacrifice and dedication of Polish soldiers during the Italian campaign. Every year, veterans, historians, and visitors come to this site to pay tribute and reflect on the events that took place there. The building, still owned by the Pittiglio family today, preserves the memories of those difficult days and represents a tangible link between the past and the present.