Earthquake takes lives, damages treasures in central Italy


The loss of life is crushing to the small town, but so is the loss of parts of the 13th century Basilica of San Bernardino, the site of the coronation of Pope Celestine V in 1294. The church's bell tower collapsed, and the apse was also damaged. Destroyed in the earthquake was the Porta Napoli, "the oldest and most beautiful gate to the city built in 1548 in honour of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V."