Finishes: Colors & Stains

The world's most glorious monastery, at Monte Cassino in Italy, was destroyed during the second world war because of a mistake by a British junior officer, according to new evidence in a book due out this week.

The towering hill of Monte Cassino topped by the monastery was the linchpin of the line that the Allies were determined to capture, because breaking through the Gustav Line was necessary for reaching Rome, which was finally captured on June 5.