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Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio MORENO01 - Shutterstock

Church of the Holy Souls

The Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio, also known as the Church of the Holy Souls, is a significant religious and architectural monument in L’Aquila, Italy, located in Piazza del Duomo. Construction began in 1713 to commemorate the victims of the 1703 earthquake, symbolizing the city’s Baroque reconstruction during the 18th century.

The church features an iconic late-Baroque facade completed in the late 1700s, designed by local architect Giovan Francesco Leomporri and inspired by Roman churches such as San Marcello. The cupola, added in 1803, was designed by Giuseppe Valadier. The interior decorations incorporate reused elements from other damaged or abandoned churches post-earthquake. Here is a translation of the writing above the entrance door in Latin: “The dead do not benefit from tears, but prayers, supplications and alms”.

Severely damaged by the 2009 earthquake, including the near-total collapse of its dome, the church underwent extensive restoration, partially funded by the French government. The project cost €6.5 million and took four years, culminating in its reopening in 2018. Today, it stands as a poignant symbol of resilience and cultural cooperation.

This post is also available in: Español Italiano

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