The stage is not there yet but the controversy is already not lacking. It all started with the Citizens’ Association for the historic center, which started a signature collection to contest the stage in front of Collemaggio for the Forgiveness in L’Aquila
The stage complies with the Superintendence’s requirements, but according to the citizens, who currently number around 130, it is “guilty” of hiding the beauty of the basilicas, extending the discussion to San Bernardino too. The Democratic Party has accepted the appeal by also inviting the Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano to have his say, even if the citizens speak of a “normal request” and say not to make it a “political question”.
The citizens of the historic center also launched the petition to “prevent risks of damage due to vibrations”. In reality, the controversies on stage began years ago, when it was decided for Perdonanza to transform the churchyard in front of the basilica into a sort of “theatre of forgiveness”, as the artistic director Leonardo De Amicis called it.
The majority group leaders have already responded to those who protest, sending the criticisms back to the sender: “it was not necessary to bother Celestine V”, they replied, dismissing the controversy as political exploitation. (archive photo)
