In the next weeks, the national police squad of art experts must determine which buildings can be repaired and restored and which must be razed to the ground for safety reasons.
Amatrice, known as the ‘town of 100 churches”, was one of the hardest-hit centers.
Many significant churches have collapsed, although not entirely, and may therefore be restored.
Among them is the Church of San Francesco, whose façade shows several cracks; the roof is in place, but will need to be reinforced, according to leading Italian art historian Vittorio Sgarbi.
The 15th-century Church of Sant’Agostino has lost its beautiful rose window, but has retained its Gothic marble portal. It should be possible to rebuild the rose window, Sgarbi said during an interview on Italian TV.
While two thirds of the crumbled Church of San Giovanni have been lost, it should be easy to rebuild it as the structure was made of bricks, according to Sgarbi.
The museum dedicated to Amatrice’s most important artist, Cola dell’Amatrice, has been largely destroyed. It is not yet known the fate of his works of art. While little-known to the general public, Cola dell’Amatrice was a notable painter, sculptor and architect of the Renaissance, a friend of some of his contemporary greats, like Raphael, Michelangelo and Giulio Romano. Cola was not interested in putting himself in the spotlight, preferring to avoid the competition of the overcrowded art world of Rome; he was mainly active in Ascoli Piceno, L’Aquila and the areas close to his hometown. The recovery of his works is extremely important for Amatrice.
The 13th-century civic tower is still standing, with the clock stopped at 3:36 am, the time the earthquake struck; a monument to the civic spirit of Amatrice in the Middle Ages, it has come to symbolize strength and the ability to withstand difficulties.
Below is a look at the current state of the monuments mentioned above. Seeing them so badly damaged, it may seem impossible to salvage them, but Italy has some of the best experts in art restoration in the world and, if funds are allocated wisely, it may be possible to restore them to their former beauty.
