Italy's vulnerable beauty lacks funds and attention against earthquakes

The town hall is seen in Norcia, central Italy, August 9, 2016. REUTERS/Crispian Balmer

ROME (Reuters) - The basilica of Saint Benedict in the medieval town of Norcia swayed but held up last week when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake rocked mountainous central Italy.

Just 24 km (15 miles) away in Amatrice, which used to bill itself as the town of 100 churches, the historic centre was flattened and not a single holy place escaped undamaged.