The citizens of Atina who decided to remain worked tirelessly together to gradually rebuild their lives and rebuild and repair their beloved Atina. Over a period of many years the town has been reconstructed, however if you look very carefully many of the buildings still bear the scars of the bombing and shelling.
On the 18th October 1947 an impressive ceremony was held in Atina in the presence of civil and religious authorities. The works for the recovery of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta were finally completed, according to the project drawn up by Prof. Arch. Cherubino Malpeli and by Ing. Di Renzi. In particular, a new dome had been built and on this occasion an iron cross was to be installed on it, a symbol of faith and hope for peace. The following inscription had been engraved on the cross: “The fury of war that destroyed Atina from 9 September 43 to May 1944 very seriously damaged this bicentennial Cathedral“.
On that day, the parish priest Mgr. Arturo Di Cosmo, in the presence of a large crowd of faithful, had the unenviable task of being suspended about 36 meters high for the ceremony of the blessing of the cross. The bells rang out joyously, as if to invoke God’s blessing on Atina, which was resurrected, which wanted to live.
Thanks to Louise Shapcott