Italy appealed Today for international assistance to restore historic monuments, churches and palazzi damaged by this week's earthquake, warning it will take years and millions of euros (dollars) to repair the treasures, if they can be saved at all, according to AP. Some 30 million Euro ($39.82 million) is necessary for early operations alone, such as securing the buildings, Giuseppe Proietti, the secretary-general of Italy's Culture Ministry, told The Associated Press. The 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the medieval city of L'Aquila and several other towns in central Italy Monday, leveling buildings and reducing entire blocks to piles of rubble. Many Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance landmarks were damaged, and on Wednesday, teams began inspecting the wreckage. The city's ancient wall also crumbled at parts, and one of the doors to the city partially collapsed. «Cultural heritage by its own nature cannot be reproduced,» he said. Even if a replacement is made, «the artwork is lost and can no longer be the original one.»
