Priority

«First the factories, then the houses, then the churches»: a few days after the earthquake in May, the Archbishop of Udine, Alfredo Battisti, set out the priorities for recovery, capturing a sentiment that had come from below and been embraced by the priests of Friuli. The State and the government of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia promptly allocated the first funds for the reconstruction of the industrial infrastructure, which gained momentum after the earthquake in September.

Since the 1960s, the traditional family-run agricultural businesses operating in the foothill areas had been joined by a rapidly growing industry driven by a young entrepreneurial class and a widespread culture of work. The reaction was immediate: before production could resume, the workforce was tasked with salvaging whatever remained standing, thereby preventing a resurgence of emigration or a shift towards the major urban centres of the Region.

Regional Law No. 17 dated June 17 1976 was fundamental to the reconstruction of buildings. The principle that repair was preferable to rebuilding wherever possible became its cornerstone. Consequently, politicians, administrators, and technicians had to start working together, initiating the complex process of damage assessment, which proved to be essential. Meanwhile, many private individuals were already taking action, even before receiving the promised subsidies. In the summer of 1976, thousands of demobilised Alpine troops from across Italy spent their holidays in Friuli amidst the rubble and initial signs of reconstruction. However, the September tremors were still to come, as was the exodus of thousands of families to coastal resorts and, for many others, a winter spent in caravans and tents in the cold.

As the new year began and the ground stopped trembling, it became clear to everyone that the task ahead was enormous. Ideas and concrete plans were needed, above all, an overarching vision of how to rebuild. Psychologically, however, the reconstruction had already begun.