1461 L'Aquila earthquake
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On 27 November 1461, a powerful earthquake and series of aftershocks struck Italy's Abruzzo region along the Aterno River. The tremors caused widespread damage to Abruzzo's capital, L'Aquila, and the
The dome of Santa Maria di Collemaggio collapsed.
Santa Maria di Collemaggio
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Santa Maria di Collemaggio is a large medieval church in L'Aquila, central Italy. It was the site of the original Papal Jubilee, a penitential observation devised by Pope Celestine V, who is buried th
1461 L'Aquila earthquake
…Many of the city's churches suffered partial collapses including Santo Dominico, Santo Francisco, Santo Agostina, and Santo Salvestro. The dome of Santa Maria di Collemaggio collapsed, as well as many of the ceiling vaults of the hospital. A side of Santo Massimo collapsed onto and destroyed an adjacent bishopry. A bell…
The façade of Santa Maria di Collemaggio
Interior view before the 2009 earthquake
The central rose window
Detail of the tabernacles and statues of the main portal. Photo by Paolo Monti, 1969.