L'Aquila reopens Collemaggio Basilica and secures funding for Maxxi branch

The medieval Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila has reopened to the public after extensive restoration funded by Eni, with project management by the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per L'Aquila. The church, founded in the 13th century by Pietro da Morrone (later Pope Celestino V), was severely damaged in the 2009 earthquake. Restoration included consolidation of the facade, bell tower, apse, walls, and nave pillars; reconstruction of the collapsed transept, polylobate pillars, triumphal arch, and roofing; and restoration of side altars, the chapels of Jean Bassand and the Saint, revealing an unprecedented Baroque decorative apparatus. Flooring, marble balustrades, and frescoes were also restored. Simultaneously, the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved an amendment to the 2018 budget law providing €2 million annually for Maxxi L'Aquila, a permanent branch of Rome's Maxxi museum. The project, located at Palazzo Ardinghelli in L'Aquila's historic center, is funded by a €7.2 million grant from the Russian government for restoration. Maxxi Secretary General Pietro Barrera stated the space will focus on contemporary creativity, training, and experimentation, with photography exhibitions suited to its small rooms. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini praised the measure as part of a broader cultural investment in the budget.