After the devastating earthquake that hit L’Aquila in April 2009, Japan pledged to rebuild the city’s destroyed concert hall as a show of support.
On Saturday, L’Aquila celebrated the completion of the new concert hall with an inauguration ceremony and musical performance.
The hall was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban to replace the concert building that was irreparably damaged in the 2009 earthquake that killed 308. Japan paid for the 600,000 euro construction bill.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi released a statement thanking Japan for their support and offering his hopes for Japan’s own recovery after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the country’s Tohoku region.
