For the first time in Italy the reconstruction of a disaster-affected area was completed, most importantly in a reasonable time. Ten years after the earthquake, most of the problems had been solved. Homes, services, factories, infrastructures were back in business. The credit must be given to the decentralization promptly decided by the Government, to the joint action of the Region and municipalities, but mainly to the determination of the people involved not to interrupt the path of recently undertaken development. The mayors were the protagonists of the great transformation of the Friuli earthquake disaster. The needs of citizens found interpreters and mediators. It was necessary to recognize the destruction of old settlements, to evaluate what had to be put back on its feet, and what hat to be given up. The priority assigned to the factories and the choice of traditional centres of life lined up perfectly with the widespread industrialization that characterized the growth of a good part of the area struck by the earthquake. The development of roads and support of new research centers completed a transformation project that involved the entire region and Udine in particular. The capital of Friuli proved to have knowledge and skills able to deal with emergency and a real reconstruction. The agreement between political forces favored the collaboration between those who led the recovery. The restoration of productive assets and building structures was a true time of rebuilding. The cultural heritage was safeguarded at every level. The University of Udine completed the framework of structures supporting business, land and cultural identity. Development processes were seconded and confirmed the success of the reconstruction itself, which in Italy has been presented as a model, as a result to be imitated. In the mountainside, where the walls of even the most remote farmhouses were rebuilt, settlements continued to be abandoned. A specific safeguard plan was not prepared. Apart from isolated proposals, focusing normally on tourist vocations, the trends of the mountain slopes being allowed to run wild and the rapid demographic decline were accepted as invitable.

The area affected by the earthquake is the same that suffered the destructions of the Austrian invasion after Caporetto and the heaviest bombing of World War II. It remained (thankfully) as an empty voice that "di besoi", which was born from those experiences, because in this event the Italian state was timely and generous in its assistance. In the case of the Alpine municipalities, it lacked a previously elaborated programmefor renewal. The landscapes of constant labour could only be conceived of as natural parks and were rejected by the inhabitants of the mountain itselves. It was also in this case an aspect of the reconstruction, a problem for certain new aspects, of the new Friuli.

Tommaso Mazzoli

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