(ANSA) - PERUGIA, DEC 1 - The work of securing, building site and carrying out preliminary investigations of the Basilica of San Benedetto di Norcia almost entirely collapsed after the 2016 earthquake was concluded "well in advance" compared to the 120 days provided for in the tender notice The superintendence of fine arts and landscape archeology of Umbria has made it known.
The works of this last phase mainly concerned the crypt area, emptied of rubble and safely released, and the remaining portions of the Basilica, apse and transept, already free of rubble but not yet insecure.
The works were financed with Por Fesr 2014-2020 funds of the Umbria Region and directed by the Superintendence of Archeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Umbria as part of a convention signed between Mibact and the Umbria Region in March 2019.
In the coming days - it was announced - the construction site will be removed pending the start of the reconstruction works for which the award phase of the project has been completed, coordinated by the Special Superintendence for the areas affected by the 2016 earthquake.
"It is an excellent goal what we have reached so far in advance - underlines the superintendent Rosaria Mencarelli -, due both to the competence and organization of the company but also to the technical skills of the officials of the Superintendency. At the end of these works we are also considering starting the operations to secure and consolidate the significant remains of the large canvas by Filippo Napoletano depicting the meeting between S. Bened
eTotila, king of the Goths who was placed on the altar of the left transept of the Basilica.
Although very damaged, it is an important testimony that we must return to the Basilica and to the Nursina community ". (ANSA).