When the earth opened up into two, engulfing the normality of everyday life through the Central Apennines, tents, prefab homes and caravans have partially obviated the post-earthquake housing emergency in the medieval hamlets of central Italy. 

Meanwhile, thousands of evacuees have had to accept exile on the Adriatic coast where they await to be allocated emergency accommodation. More than one year after the devastating earthquakes that struck the regions of Lazio, Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo between August and November 2016, causing nearly 300 victims and around 40 thousand people to lose their homes, only a mere 8,57 percent of the rubble has been removed in the municipalities of the seismic crater. According to the National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Keepers: “The lack of proper prevention policies in Italy, highlighted after each major disaster, always leads to the adoption of emergency measures, due to the decision to spurn the culture of knowledge, of contrast and that of risk reduction”. There are still over two and half million tonnes of construction material in the four regions, mostly deriving from building demolition activities. This all impedes the resumption of most economic and social activities, forcing each person to reconsider the very nature of their own priorities according to habitable places. 

A deep crack caused by the earthquake on the way to Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A deep crack caused by the earthquake on the way to Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Power cables hanging from a home badly damaged by the earthquake. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Power cables hanging from a home badly damaged by the earthquake. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A woman on her doorstep. According to technicians from the Civil Protection Department, there are about 40000 displaced persons by the earthquake. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A woman on her doorstep. According to technicians from the Civil Protection Department, there are about 40000 displaced persons by the earthquake. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A playground in front of a building badly damaged by the earthquake. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A playground in front of a building badly damaged by the earthquake. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some death notices on the remains of a building badly damaged by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some death notices on the remains of a building badly damaged by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A rock fell on the road after punching a hole in the fence. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A rock fell on the road after punching a hole in the fence. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A truck with a load of wood flipped onto its roof on the street to Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A truck with a load of wood flipped onto its roof on the street to Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A man rests on a bus made available to people displaced by the earthquake in the municipality of Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A man rests on a bus made available to people displaced by the earthquake in the municipality of Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A chair in a tent set up by the Red Cross in a collection point for displaced people in Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A chair in a tent set up by the Red Cross in a collection point for displaced people in Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A woman rests on a bed at a collection point for displaced persons set up by the Red Cross in the municipality of Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A woman rests on a bed at a collection point for displaced persons set up by the Red Cross in the municipality of Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A dog left among the ruins of his home. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A dog left among the ruins of his home. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The ruins of a church destroyed after the earthquake swarm that hit central Italy. The bell tower was badly damaged, but endured the seismic tremors without collapsing. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The ruins of a church destroyed after the earthquake swarm that hit central Italy. The bell tower was badly damaged, but endured the seismic tremors without collapsing. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some displaced people by the earthquake that hit central Italy, sheltered on a bus. After structural damages to several buildings of the town, an order has been given to evacuate citizens, who have been accommodated in public facilities, tents, and hotels. Camerino, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some displaced people by the earthquake that hit central Italy, sheltered on a bus. After structural damages to several buildings of the town, an order has been given to evacuate citizens, who have been accommodated in public facilities, tents, and hotels. Camerino, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two friars are seen preparing food and drink to be distributed to the displaced people of the town, accommodated in the municipal sport building turned into a shelter centre. According to technicians from the Civil Protection Department, there are about 40000 displaced persons by the earthquake. Camerino, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two friars are seen preparing food and drink to be distributed to the displaced people of the town, accommodated in the municipal sport building turned into a shelter centre. According to technicians from the Civil Protection Department, there are about 40000 displaced persons by the earthquake. Camerino, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The evacuees of the town are seen sheltered in the municipal sport building turned into a temporary accommodation centre. Camerino, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The evacuees of the town are seen sheltered in the municipal sport building turned into a temporary accommodation centre. Camerino, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Sibillini Mountains. Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Sibillini Mountains. Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A children’s playground in the vicinity of dozens of earthquake-proof wooden houses built after the earthquake of 1997 and left empty or almost unused. Forcella (Serravalle del Chienti), Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A children’s playground in the vicinity of dozens of earthquake-proof wooden houses built after the earthquake of 1997 and left empty or almost unused. Forcella (Serravalle del Chienti), Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Earthquake-proof wooden houses built after the earthquake of 1997 and left empty or almost unused. Forcella (Serravalle del Chienti), Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Earthquake-proof wooden houses built after the earthquake of 1997 and left empty or almost unused. Forcella (Serravalle del Chienti), Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two men are seen monitoring the damages to their homes after the powerful seismic tremors, measuring up to 5.9 magnitude on the Richter scale, that hit central Italy. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two men are seen monitoring the damages to their homes after the powerful seismic tremors, measuring up to 5.9 magnitude on the Richter scale, that hit central Italy. Visso, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The cemetery in Norcia badly damaged by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The cemetery in Norcia badly damaged by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Damaged gravestones at the cemetery in Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Damaged gravestones at the cemetery in Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A woman brings flowers to her parents’ grave, badly damaged by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A woman brings flowers to her parents’ grave, badly damaged by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A young man at a public garden along with other displaced persons. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A young man at a public garden along with other displaced persons. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A car crushed under a collapsed building belonging to the Ansuini brothers butchery. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A car crushed under a collapsed building belonging to the Ansuini brothers butchery. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some replicas of pigs in front of the Ansuini brothers butchery, badly damaged by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some replicas of pigs in front of the Ansuini brothers butchery, badly damaged by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Mr. Ansuini at his own pork butchery. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Mr. Ansuini at his own pork butchery. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Men work with a backhoe to remove rubble and debris. The earthquake triggered landslides and rockfalls on roads. Triponzo, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Men work with a backhoe to remove rubble and debris. The earthquake triggered landslides and rockfalls on roads. Triponzo, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
53-year-old Fabio Allegrini is about to walk into his house to recover clothes and personal items. After the earthquake, the entire historic centre has been evacuated. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
53-year-old Fabio Allegrini is about to walk into his house to recover clothes and personal items. After the earthquake, the entire historic centre has been evacuated. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The living room of 70-year-old Maria Pia Cortelli’s house. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The living room of 70-year-old Maria Pia Cortelli’s house. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Children’s toys in the Pantani family’s backyard. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Children’s toys in the Pantani family’s backyard. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The historic centre walls partially collapsed after the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The historic centre walls partially collapsed after the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
14-year-old Valerio Allegrini draws on the hood of his family car, covered in dust after a bell tower’s collapse. His mother Adele, who was driving, escaped death by a matter of seconds. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
14-year-old Valerio Allegrini draws on the hood of his family car, covered in dust after a bell tower’s collapse. His mother Adele, who was driving, escaped death by a matter of seconds. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Cows inside the fence. The earthquake has damaged sheds and water pipeline in many localities causing serious problems for breeders. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Cows inside the fence. The earthquake has damaged sheds and water pipeline in many localities causing serious problems for breeders. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
An helicopter flying over the hills along the street to Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
An helicopter flying over the hills along the street to Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some Carabinieri guard the entrance to the historic centre of the city, evacuated after the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some Carabinieri guard the entrance to the historic centre of the city, evacuated after the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two children play in front of the house entrance. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two children play in front of the house entrance. Rocchetta, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The company facility where 53-year-old Fabio Allegrini used to work, has been severely damaged by the earthquake of 30 October. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The company facility where 53-year-old Fabio Allegrini used to work, has been severely damaged by the earthquake of 30 October. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
53-year-old Fabio Allegrini accompanied by two firefighters in front of his house to recover clothes and personal items. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
53-year-old Fabio Allegrini accompanied by two firefighters in front of his house to recover clothes and personal items. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
70-year-old Maria Pia Cortelli in the courtyard of her house. On the background, her neighbor’s house destroyed by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
70-year-old Maria Pia Cortelli in the courtyard of her house. On the background, her neighbor’s house destroyed by the earthquake. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The flashing lights of emergency vehicles brighten the entrance to the historic centre. The road, badly damaged by the earthquake, has been closed to the traffic. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The flashing lights of emergency vehicles brighten the entrance to the historic centre. The road, badly damaged by the earthquake, has been closed to the traffic. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A rescuer near the historic centre of Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A rescuer near the historic centre of Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
14-year-old Valerio Allegrini on his grandfather’s doorstep. While his family is sitting around the dinner table, Valerio refuses to go inside the house for fear of other earthquakes. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
14-year-old Valerio Allegrini on his grandfather’s doorstep. While his family is sitting around the dinner table, Valerio refuses to go inside the house for fear of other earthquakes. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Adele Pontani sitting at the table with her husband Fabio Allegrini and their nephew. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Adele Pontani sitting at the table with her husband Fabio Allegrini and their nephew. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sheets hung out on the balcony of Pontani’s house. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sheets hung out on the balcony of Pontani’s house. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
53-year-old Fabio Allegrini in seen in the car with his son Valerio and his nephew Giulio before reaching the container where they will stay for the night. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
53-year-old Fabio Allegrini in seen in the car with his son Valerio and his nephew Giulio before reaching the container where they will stay for the night. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The container where the Allegrini family spends the nights after their house in the historic centre has been condemned because of earthquake damage. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
The container where the Allegrini family spends the nights after their house in the historic centre has been condemned because of earthquake damage. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
14-year-old Valerio Allegrini on the street with his 8-year-old cousin Giulio Pontani. While their family is gathered in the house, Valerio and Giulio refuse to go inside for fear of other earthquakes. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
14-year-old Valerio Allegrini on the street with his 8-year-old cousin Giulio Pontani. While their family is gathered in the house, Valerio and Giulio refuse to go inside for fear of other earthquakes. Norcia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
An Italian flag stuck in the branches of a tree. Cascia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
An Italian flag stuck in the branches of a tree. Cascia, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli

The sphere of private life has dwindled due to the forced sociability imposed by common spaces yet, in turn, this has had the effect of bringing people together who have experienced the same traumatic event, leading them to support and connect with each other. Some citizens have started associations and committees for the purpose of finding solutions to common problems. “Maiora premunt” (Greater things are pressing) is a personal project that documents how their way of living has evolved, between the changes in social life and the common spaces allocated to it, leading up to such changes in the very concept of the definition of “community”, and trying to put together the puzzle of the multiplicity of identities who live in those places.

39-year-old Pierluigi Giorgi is seen on the balcony of the hotel room where he has been staying after losing his home in Arquata del Tronto, following the earthquake of 24 August 2016. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A boy practices floating on his back in the sea in front of the hotel where he has been staying, along with the other evacuees arrived on the Adriatic coast about a year ago, following the earthquake of 24 August 2016 in which almost 300 people died. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sand castles by the sea built by a family hosted in one of the hotels on the Adriatic coast, where thousands of earthquake victims have been temporarily staying for about a year now. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Domenico is seen relaxing on the beach in front of the hotel where he is temporarily staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
23-year-old Gennaro and 19-year-old Marzia kiss each other on a beach lounger. Marzia and Gennaro met in one of the hotels on the coast where they were staying with the other victims of the earthquake of 24 August 2016. Now they live together in a hotel room. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
74-year-old Rinaldo Puppo is seen inside a bus. He get back to Accumoli every other day by bus to take care of his animals and his garden. He has been living with his wife Franca in a hotel on the Adriatic coast for about a year now, but he hopes to be able to return soon to live in the mountains. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Marconi hotel where about 90 evacuees are staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A priest celebrates Mass in a room of a hotel on the Adriatic coast where many earthquake victims are temporarily staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
9-year-old Anastasia Paganelli, is seen lying on the bed with her parents in the hotel room where they are temporarily staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
80-year-old Sabatino is seen with his 71-year-old wife Annamaria waiting for the cleaning ladies of the hotel to finish tidying their room. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
The mother of the Accumoli’s mayor sit alone in the hall of the Marconi hotel where she’s staying with other evacuees of her municipality. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
65-year-old Roberto Lattanzi is seen awaiting his 40-year-old daughter Iolanda, whit whom he goes to Accumoli everyday by car in order to take care of the horses at a farm. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Pillows and sheets hanging in the sun on the balcony of the hotel room where 43-year-old Marika is temporarily staying with her family. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A scene of everyday life inside a room of the Marconi hotel where about 90 earthquake victims are staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Pictures of some family members of Annamaria and her husband Sabatino, that were found under the rubble of their home and now placed on the nightstand of the hotel room where they are staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
45-year-old Annunziatina Attenni is seen inside the hotel room where she has been staying with her daughter for about a week now. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two women are seen cleaning the lounge of the Marconi hotel while a child sleeps on one of the sofas. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Giambattista and Annunziatina are seen with their daughter Anastasia on the bed of the hotel room where they are temporarily staying. Following the earthquake of 24 August 2016, thousands of evacuees have been moved to the Adriatic coast awaiting the earthquake-proof wooden houses. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A young woman is seen by the bar of the Marconi hotel, used as an accommodation for about 90 evacuees coming from the town centers affected by the earthquake of 24 August 2016. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
Gabriele Vittori portrayed inside the Marconi hotel where he has been temporarily staying with other victims of the earthquake of 24 August 2016. He goes to Accumoli everyday to work at his construction company. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
65-year-old Roberto Lattanzi is seen with his 40-year-old daughter Iolanda. They go everyday by car to Amatrice, where she works as a clerk in a post office, while Roberto works at a farm in Accumoli. They pay around 450 euros a month for fuel and motorway toll. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
67-year-old Michelina walks towards the beach carrying a chair to seat and relax by the sea. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
39-year-old Pierluigi Giorgi is seen under an umbrella at the beach while some kites held by a peddler are flying in the sky. After loosing his home in Arquata del Tronto during the earthquake of 24 August 2016, Pierluigi is temporarily staying in a hotel on the Adriatic coast. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A peddler walks on the beach while some victims of the earthquake of 24 August 2016 are seen resting on the beach loungers in front of the hotel where they are temporarily staying. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
A boy plays on the beach in front of the hotel where he’s staying with the other evacuees who arrived on the Adriatic coast about a year ago, after the earthquake of 24 August 2016. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli
19-year-old Marzia is seen with her 23-year-old boyfriend Gennaro. Marzia and Gennaro met in one of the hotel on the coast where they were staying with the other victims of the earthquake of 24 August 2016. Now they live together in a hotel room. Grottammare, Italy 2017. © Matteo Bastianelli

MAIORA PREMUNT (2016-2017)