Luigi Sorrentino, Elisabetta Raglione, Luis D. Decanini, Domenico Liberatore: La chiesa di S. Biagio a L’Aquila

Luigi Sorrentino, Elisabetta Raglione, Luis D. Decanini, Domenico Liberatore: La chiesa di S. Biagio a L’Aquila

Luigi Sorrentino, Elisabetta Raglione, Luis D. Decanini, Domenico Liberatore: La chiesa di S. Biagio a L’Aquila

CHURCH OF S. BIAGIO IN L’AQUILA
The church of San Biagio is located close to the cathedral of L’Aquila. The building has three naves, the main one covered by a reed mat vault ceiling, the lateral two covered by brick masonry domes. The roof of the main nave is a timber trusses one. On top of the original structure a concrete beams - hollow bricks roof was built in 1980. The first church was built in the second half of the 13th century, and substantially modified after the 1349 earthquake. Its current look is a combination of the post 1703 earthquake restoration and a refurbishing of the 1920’s. The building presents several earthquake related historical details, such as the reed mat vault, timber ties with iron wall anchors, timber wall anchors. After the April, 6 2009 event the church has suffered the collapse of the upper part of the façade. This seems related to the poor masonry quality, and to the burdening of the roof, above all. Other minor damages affect the vaults and the piers.