Ophera: Restoring Post-Earthquake Heritage in Italy's Marche Region

Ophera, a European initiative, focuses on the rehabilitation of cultural heritage sites that suffered damage from the 2016 earthquake in Italy's Marche region. Launched by Giovanni Issini under the auspices of the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture for the Marche, the project collaborates with four universities: University of Ferrara, University of Minho, University of Cyprus, and University of Ljubljana. It received co-funding from the European Commission's Creative Europe program in 2019. Beginning in June 2022, 'Cantieri Aperti' events emerged from workshops held in Limassol, Guimarães, and Camerino, encouraging public involvement with the restored sites, including Pieve Torina, Visso, Monte San Martino, Castel di Luco, and Palazzo Saladini. The emotional public response has strengthened ties to these cherished locations, with a focus on transparency in the restoration process, which adapted to online formats due to COVID-19.