Maxxi L'Aquila opening reignites debate on ruined Santa Maria Paganica church

The recent opening of Maxxi L'Aquila in Palazzo Ardinghelli has revived the long-dormant debate over the fate of the nearby Santa Maria Paganica church, destroyed in the 2009 earthquake and still awaiting any restoration work. The church, located directly opposite the new museum, confronts visitors with the city's unhealed wounds. During the press conference for the Maxxi's new branch, both Minister Dario Franceschini and Pietro Barrera, secretary general of the Fondazione Maxxi, fielded questions about the church's future. No project or strategy for its recovery has been proposed, leaving options such as demolition, reconstruction as it was, or permanent ruination open.