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Planning for the allied invasion of Italy started in the Survey Directorate, General Headquarters, Middle East (GHQ ME), on 22 February 1943. However, British mapping of Italy had started before February 1943 as part of general mapping on Europe at small scales in anticipation of a European war. 1:1,000,000 series mapping had commenced in 1938, 1:500,000 series mapping for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1941 and at 1:250,000 also for the RAF in 1940. Additional 1:250,000 series for the Army and the Army and RAF were produced a little later. Topographic maps of Italy had been produced from 1941 by direct reproduction from Italian maps. Mapping of the Italian theatre, remained a largely British responsibility following the Loper-Hotine Agreement of May 1942. After a brief account of mapping activities during the Second World War, there follows a more detailed discussion of the sources, production and style of the different map series produced. It will include a discussion of the more specialised maps, such as “collation” editions, the “goings” editions and the bilingual and multi-lingual editions produced to meet the needs of Polish, Italian and French forces.