Post-earthquake reconstruction debate for Amatrice and central Italy

The Italian government has moved quickly to decide on reconstruction after the August 2016 earthquake that devastated Amatrice, Arquata del Tronto, and Accumoli, excluding new towns from the outset. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Infrastructure Minister Graziano Delrio have advocated rebuilding "dov'era com'era" (where it was, as it was), a motto originating from the 1902 collapse of St Mark's Campanile in Venice. This approach has been criticized by Massimiliano Tonelli on Artribune for lacking public debate and ignoring historical precedents like Noto, which was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake as a Baroque masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002. Tonelli argues that the rush to rebuild in the same style risks creating kitsch replicas akin to Chinese copies of Italian villages, and that the government is prioritizing political expediency over thoughtful urban planning. He notes that the Ministry of Culture under Dario Franceschini has been sidelined. The article calls for a broader discussion involving architects, designers, urban planners, anthropologists, and others to explore alternatives: rebuilding "dov'era com'era," "dov'era ma non com'era" (where it was but not as it was), or building new towns elsewhere. Tonelli warns that without a strategic vision, the reconstruction may produce an "outlet" or "scenography" rather than a living community.