The Monument to the Fallen of Arquata del Tronto: a Symbol of Rebirth for the Reconstruction of a Village Destroyed by the Earthquake

Abstract

The study of the monuments to the fallen of the First World War is today a highly debated field. This paper focuses on the events regarding the Monument to the fallen of the First World War of Arquata del Tronto (AP). Designed between 1925 and 1937 by Vincenzo Pilotti, the monument was placed on a pre-existing civic tower. Pilotti conceived a vertical commemorative plaque framed by travertine moldings carved by Pietro Cinelli; five bronze eagles, made by Enrico Brunelleschi, were placed as crowning element. The monument was destroyed by the 2016/17 central Italy earthquake. Its reconstruction, which is strongly demanded by the local community, can represent a symbol of rebirth, a new memorial both to the Great War fallen soldiers and to those who lost their lives because of the earthquake.

Keywords

• Monumenti
• Memoria
• Terremoto
• Identità
• Rinascita