Italy Quake Caused Massive Damage to Medieval Heritage

Ancient churches, castles in Abruzzo suffer serious quake damage
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 7, 2009 2:18 AM CDT
Italy Quake Caused Massive Damage to Medieval Heritage
A view of the damaged dome of the L'Aquila Duomo church in central Italy.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

The 6.3 earthquake in Italy yesterday caused massive damage to what had been one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities, ANSA reports. Large sections of a famous 13th-century basilica and three other historic churches in the mountain city of L'Aquila have crumbled. An ornate 1584 gate to the community has been destroyed, and a damaged castle that holds the local museum is too dangerous to enter. Archaeologists also fear the 3rd-century Baths of Caracella in Rome were significantly damaged. (More Italy stories.)

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