Earthquake hits close to home

Here's a sneak peek at a story this week on the devastating April 6 earthquake in L'Aquila, central Italy.

One local family is paying close attention to the deadly earthquake in central Italy.

Cecilia Challen, a native of Italy’s Abruzzo Region, visited L’Aquila province last month for a family vacation. She marveled at the historic Renaissance basilicas, the beautiful Apennine Mountains, the modern university and scores of laptop toting students, reminiscent of Hamilton’s Westdale village.

Near the end of her excursion in Sulmona, a town of 25,000, Mrs. Challen and her family felt the earth move. She checked the time. It was 2 a.m., Saturday, March 22.

Later that morning, Mrs. Challen overheard two local women speaking about the “Terremoto.” Indeed, there had been a mild earthquake. But there was no indication of things to come.
With their vacation nearly complete, the Challens returned home to Ancaster. Less than two weeks later, they were shocked by the news that much of their beloved land was in ruins.
Cecilia, born in 1941 as Cesira Corti, grew up in the Abruzzo Region east of Rome. She immigrated to Hamilton with her family at age 10. Growing up in an Italian household, Cecelia heard stories about her Aunt Cesira, a beautiful young woman who was killed in a devastating 1915 earthquake.

The April 6 earthquake that rocked L’Aqulia province wasn’t quite as devastating as the 1915 disaster that killed an estimated 6,000 people. But today, thousands are homeless and more than 270 are dead.

L’Aquila is one of the Challen family’s favourite vacation spots. Mrs. Challen once lived in the town of Gagliano Aterno, just a short drive from L’Aquila. Many of L’Aquila’s historic landmarks were hit by the earthquake, including the Basilica of San Bernardino, the greatest Renaissance church of the Abruzzi.

L’Aquila is a university town, and the centre of government for the Abruzzo Region. It is both a city and a province. L’Aquila is also famous for its soft nougat candy, called Nurzia.
Easter is perhaps the most the most celebrated holiday in Italy. But this year’s festivities took on a solemn tone, as Italians around the world stopped to reflect on the grave loss of life in their homeland.

“Instead of the bells tolling, a gorgeous sound, it’s going to be quite toned down,” Mrs. Challen said.
Growing up in Gagliano Aterno, Mrs. Challen knew about the potential earthquake threat. On occasion, a tremor was felt, enough to rattle some pots and pans, but never enough to level a building. So on March 22, no one in the Challen family was particularly worried.

Mrs. Challen, her husband, Paul and their family love to visit the Abruzzi Region. A newly published author, Mrs. Challen’s first book documents her family’s Italian roots. Her book, There Comes a Time, traces the life Mrs. Challen’s mother, Evelina Corti.

Mrs. Challen recently published a short story about her recent visit to L’Aquila. She recalls the Colonnade area packed with expensive sports cars, the National Art Museum of the Abruzzo, and the storied Fountain of 99 Spouts, where town women have visited to collect water since the Renaissance.

While speaking to a reporter in her home, Mrs. Challen leaves the room to answer the phone. The caller is an old friend of Mrs. Challen’s mother who read her story. The caller asks for “Mimmi,” Mrs. Challen’s childhood nickname. Mrs. Challen has been answering calls from her Paesani all week.

The Challens share a property with relatives in Secinaro, southeast of L’Aquila. The nearby Avenzzano area was virtually wiped out in the 1915 quake but has since rebuilt.
“We’re hoping L’Aquila will be able to spring back the same way Avenzzano has,” Mr. Challen said.

“L'Aquila” literally translated means “the Eagle.” Although Mrs. Challen knows the eagle is grounded, she believes it will soar once again.“I’m confident that it will all come back again,” she said. “These are not people who will throw their hands up in despair.”