Huge earthquake in Italy

We (at least, I) don't usually associate Italy with earthquakes. But, that's where Mt. Vesuvius is (last significant eruption was in 1944, I think, there is a good picture of a flying bomber with the volcano in the background), and Mt. Aetna in Sicily is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Stromboli is off the Italian coast, as well.

Volcanoes = earthquakes.

It was actually an earthquake, I believe in the 13th or 14th century, that made the Colosseum what it is today.
 
Italy is one big mountain range. The main flat bits are some plains extending from near Milan, heading east to Venice. Italy is also bounded by mountains - you have to cross water or a mountain to get to Italy.

Yes, the Colosseum in Rome isn't nearly as well preserved as the ones in France or even Croatia. The earthquake didn't help, then again, neither did having the Popes abscond to France for a number of years, either. Once the papacy left Rome there wasn't much to recommend it during those years; Rome was very poor (all the sacking didn't help, either!) and people even used the Colosseum as "home and protection" during those years. It's amazing there is as much left as there is!

Now, you go to Arles or Nimes - the Arenas are in great shape and still used as entertainment venues. I've even seen a bullfight in the one in Arles.
 
woodstock said:
Italy is one big mountain range. The main flat bits are some plains extending from near Milan, heading east to Venice. Italy is also bounded by mountains - you have to cross water or a mountain to get to Italy.

Yes, the Colosseum in Rome isn't nearly as well preserved as the ones in France or even Croatia. The earthquake didn't help, then again, neither did having the Popes abscond to France for a number of years, either. Once the papacy left Rome there wasn't much to recommend it during those years; Rome was very poor (all the sacking didn't help, either!) and people even used the Colosseum as "home and protection" during those years. It's amazing there is as much left as there is!

Now, you go to Arles or Nimes - the Arenas are in great shape and still used as entertainment venues. I've even seen a bullfight in the one in Arles.
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Although I hate to make light of a situation in which people have died, your reference to "sacking" is the second time this thread has made me think of Monty Python. The first was with the guy who predicted it and was shouted down - he's a witch!

Very small rocks. :)
 
OK, more thread creep (not trying to make light of this either!)...

I am reading the Templar Code for Dummies (incidentally I think you'd really enjoy it! Ignore the "for dummies" moniker, I've actually found their series useful and interesting). At any rate, I skipped to the very last chapters re: "where to find the Holy Grail" and they referenced the castle used in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Apparently it really was one of the Knights Templar hangouts...

Amazing that the K-T only existed for maybe 200 years or so. Unless of course they all went underground.. whoooooo...
 
I studied in Castelnuovo near L'Aquila for part of a semester last year. Attached are two pictures, one a member of my class took and the other found on Yahoo.

I saw the woman whose house I stayed in on the news, so that's good.
 

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bluesky74656 said:
I studied in Castelnuovo near L'Aquila for part of a semester last year. Attached are two pictures, one a member of my class took and the other found on Yahoo.

I saw the woman whose house I stayed in on the news, so that's good.
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Ugh, that is awful. :( I can't believe the toll so far. They have not even found everyone yet.

I am glad your friend is ok.
 
Vulcanologists and geologists cannot make very accurate predictions right now, the technology just isn't that well-developed. I wouldn't doubt that the prescient scientist had false positives in the past. Be great if they could, get everyone out of town like they do (or don't) with hurricanes.
 
I hope all the Chianti is OK.


Seriously, my prayers and thoughts are with them.
 
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