The earthquake in Abruzzo, two years on

"Dear friends dotted all over the world

it's two years to the day that the earthquake shook l'Aquila. A moment to remember the victims, for civil duty and the duty to seek the truth.

And gratitude, much gratitude, for all those volunteers who came from all over Italy to give us a hand, for all those who throughout the world shared our pain, with extraordinary generosity and solidarity. We will never forget! We know that the road ahead to rebuild the city is long, arduous and paved with difficulties. At times even paved by propaganda and destitution, small or large, of a feeble exploitation of the drama. Nevertheless we will manage to rise again, to rebuild L'Aquila even more beautiful than before, with pride and dignity, like we Aquilani have done many times before during our almost 8 century history, after all the earthquakes that have hit L'Aquila.

Today we remember, in silence, that day two years back, with some images of that terrible morning. And with some images taken today, two years down the line, with a short but intense testimony by a friend, Angelo De Nicola (video by Stefano Dascoli), a journalist and writer, senior editor of the newspaper Il Messaggero. It is an exemplary reply to that vulgar mystification of the truth aired a few days ago by a TV station belonging to Mediaset."

Agostino Cittadini, L'Aquila


6 April 2009, two years later - A coffee in my garden - by Angelo De Nicola (Il Messaggero)