July-August 2010

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In his editorial in the current issue of Apollo Michael Hall discusses the impact of the earthquake that shook the Abruzzo region of Italy on 6 April. Hardest hit was the city of L'Aquila – nearly 300 people were killed and an estimated 30,000 are still camped out in tents on the edge of the city while its devastated infrastructure is investigated. All of L'Aquila's historic buildings have been damaged, for example, S Bernardino, Sta Maria di Collemaggio and the Porta Napoli (to access the editorial, click on the link: editorial).

While the Italian authorities are rightly focusing on the immediate needs of L'Aquila residents, Michael Hall referenced the earthquake in Assisi in 1997 after which the Italian government was criticised by the city's inhabitants for completing the restoration of the frescoes in the Upper Church and opening the restored basilica in 1999 while residents were still waiting to be rehoused. Could this be the reason why Silvio Berlusconi has been so cautious about accepting offers of international aid?

Postive signs emerged this week. On Monday Silvio Berlusconi was greeted by the Director of the National Gallery, Washington, Earl A. Powell III, where the Prime Minister was visiting The Beffi Triptych (above), on loan to the US in gratitude for its assistance in the aftermath of the Abruzzo earthquake. It is difficult to know quite what progress is being made in L'Aquila itself, media attention is almost non-existent post the disaster, in the UK at any rate – but Apollo will be bringing you updates from our contributor Andrew Hopkins, who lives and teaches in L'Aquila, in a series of forthcoming blogs.

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