Bonisoli: cultural heritage, from August 24 the earthquake emergency ends. Meanwhile, thousands of works saved

The minister of cultural heritage, Alberto Bonisoli, visited the places affected by the earthquake sequence that began on Aug. 24, 2016, and assured that the emergency phase will end on Aug. 24, two years after the first, destructive tremor. The first message, however, is for the victims: “I am close to the families of the victims of the long earthquake sequence that began with the August 24 tremor two years ago. This is my first visit to the municipalities of the earthquake crater in Central Italy, and I would first of all like to express my solidarity with all the citizens who lost loved ones, were forced to abandon their homes and are still living in precariousness.”

Bonisoli first went to the depository of the Holy Nail in Spoleto, where the works of art rescued from the rubble are housed, then went to Visso, surveying the Cathedral, the collegiate church of Santa Maria, the church of Sant’Agostino and the Palazzo dei Governatori, then to Campi di Norcia and finally to Norcia (in the church of San Salvatore, the basilica of San Benedetto and the cathedral of Santa Maria Argentea).

“The very soul of these territories, namely the rich widespread cultural heritage that is the result of a thousand-year history, has been deeply wounded,” the minister stressed. “Thanks to the invaluable work of MiBACT technicians and restorers, firefighters, carabinieri for the protection of cultural heritage, civil defense personnel and volunteers, it was possible to recover and secure more than 22,000 works of art and archaeological artifacts, 15,000 volumes of library holdings, 5,300 linear meters of archival assets and 1,700 buildings including churches, monasteries, monuments and historic buildings. Today I was able to see for myself the huge amount of work that has been done, which is essential and necessary to proceed with the recovery of this heritage and the return of the works kept in temporary storage facilities to their communities.” The minister then promised that “next August 24, the emergency management of the crisis units will cease and all activities concerning cultural heritage will return to the ordinary structures of MiBACT to ensure maximum effectiveness of reconstruction.”

For reconstruction, the first Stralcio Plan for Cultural Heritage provides 104 interventions (18 in Lazio, 54 in Marche, 16 in Abruzzo and 16 in Umbria) for a total amount of 170.6 million euros: it will affect cathedrals, concatthedrals and shrines, as well as complexes of important cultural significance such as the Don Minozzi Complex in Amatrice, the Pallotta Castle in Caldarola, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Teramo and the Church of San Benedetto in Norcia. One million euros, on the other hand, will be used for the restoration of movable property, now kept in MiBACT’s warehouses: they will be returned to their buildings once completed.

In the photo: Alberto Bonisoli visiting Norcia (ph. credit MiBACT - Renzo De Simone)

Bonisoli: cultural heritage, from August 24 the earthquake emergency ends. Meanwhile, thousands of works saved

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