On August 24, 2016, a 6.2 earthquake hit central Italy. On October 26 and 30, 2016 two more earthquakes, 6.1 and 6.6 respectively, struck the medieval town of Norcia and the surrounding area. The historic Basilica of St. Benedict, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Argentea, and all other churches in and around town were heavily damaged, when not entirely destroyed. The local Benedictine monks could be seen, along with Norcia inhabitants, praying on their knees on the square, before the statue of the saint who founded the Benedictine order and who is believed to have been born in Norcia (the Basilica of St. Benedict was among the buildings almost completely destroyed).
Since the earthquakes struck, Italy’s Civil Protection, the National Firefighters Unit, and the division of Carabinieri in charge of safeguarding Italy’s cultural heritage have taken steps to ensure the surviving works of art were secured. Some of the most significant, including from the Basilica of St. Benedict, will now be on view for the public again to enjoy.
“La Bellezza Ferita - Earth Heart Art Quake” (“Wounded Beauty”) opens on Friday, December 23 in Siena and aims to raise awareness of the “wounds” inflicted by the earthquakes to the people and the cultural heritage of the Norcia area, in the hope of raising contributions for the restoration and support of earthquake victims.
The works of art from the area’s churches, monasteries and chapels will be on display, symbolically protected, inside the crypt of Siena’s Cathedral, and in the museum of Santa Maria della Scala, which was once an important civic hospital dedicated to caring for abandoned children, the poor, the sick, and pilgrims. Alongside the works of art, a number of videos and photographs will show how the steps taken for the recovery of the works of art after the earthquake.
By bringing the works of art to Siena, the exhibition’s organizers hope to reach a wider audience, making Norcia and its territory, and the dramatic post-quake reality, better known to international travelers for whom Siena is such a popular destination.
“La Bellezza Ferita - Earth Heart Art Quake” (Wounded Beauty) will be on display from December 23, 2016 to October 29, 2017.
Opening hours and tickets info can be found at www.operaduomo.siena.it and www.santamariadellascala.com.
