The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi after the September 1997 Earthquake

The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi was hit by the strong earthquake that struck central Italy in the night of 26 September 1997, and a second, stronger quake again shook the Basilica at 11:42 a.m. resulting in the collapse of two frescoed vaults of the upper Basilica, and considerable damage to the tympanum, a masonry wall of cavity construction, at a transept. Cracks, partial collapses and permanent deformations were initiated throughout the Convent. This paper reports on the activities of the first structural experts summoned to the scene, and on the urgent measures that were carried out to stabilize this monument.