OREANDA-NEWS. With the signing of this agreement, Eni is committing to allocating the economic resources necessary for the realisation of the project, expected to amount to approximately € 14 million, as well as providing the technical and project management expertise necessary to complete the restoration and redevelopment.

L'Aquila, 29 August 2013 - Today signifies the conclusion of the celebrations connected with Celestine's Pardon in L'Aquila. The occasion has been marked with the signing of an agreement between Eni and the City Council, which will kick start the renovation of the Basilica of Santa Maria Collemaggio and the environmental redevelopment of the Parco del Sole.

Eni is undertaking this architectural and town planning commitment in order to return these landmarks to the city and therefore enable the local community to regain a symbolic feature at the heart of the cultural and religious life of this area.

Following last year's signing of the Memorandum of Understanding entitled “Starting afresh from Collemaggio”, Eni and the City Council embarked on the preliminary phase of technical investigations and historical research. These investigations, which are conducted by the University of L'Aquila, the Politecnico di Milano and Rome's La Sapienza University, are aimed at setting the framework required to address subsequent design and planning actions.

With the signing of this agreement, Eni is committing to allocating the economic resources necessary for the realisation of the project, expected to amount to approximately € 14 million, as well as providing the technical and project management expertise necessary to complete the restoration and redevelopment.

The works will focus primarily on safety, seismic improvements and the restoration of the Basilica, and will also include the redevelopment of the nearby Parco del Sole.

The construction phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.