New-York tribune., 1918-06-19
Churches of Italy
Chief Targets for
Austrian Bonbers
List Compiled Giving the
Names of Architectural
Monuments Damaged

The Italian Bureau of Information in
this nat.b city ro1, made PUBLIC Yesterday dis
piled by the "Giornale d'Italia" from
OFFICIAL data of Italian edifces and
architectural monuments which have
been damaged by Austrian aerial bonn
bardment. The list is extensive and
shows that the acts Of vandalism ap-
parently. have been intentional, as the
same churches have been signalled out
again and again as targets for Aus
trian bombs.
Although most of the movable
treasures of Northern Italy have been
transported to places Of safety, there
still remain near the fighting area
many objects whose nature prevents
their removal.
One of the oldest churches in Italy,
| San Apollinare Nuova, at Ravenna.
dating back to the year 526, when Theo-
! dorlc erected it to be the largest exist
ing Arian church, suffered repeatedly
from air attacks. The walls of the
nave nave OF this church are covered with
sixth century mosaics, and there are
twenty-four magnificent marble col
umns inside, which are still intact.
1he Church of San Giovanni Paola.
IN Venice, built between the years 1860
and 1400, has also been damaged. This
church was the burying place of many
doges and is filled with mausoleums Of
various dates. The Austrians have
been attacking it since 1916. The
churches Of Santa Maria Formosa, San
Pietro in. CASTILLO, Santi Simone g
Venice, have been damaged recently.
Several small houses of the fifteenth
century in the quarter of San Leonardo
/, have been ruined, as we'll as the roof
of the Chiesa del Frati, the palazzo
Foscari, San Toma and the Casa della
Seta.
AT Ancons, on the site where once
stood a temple of Venus, there was
erected in 112s the Cathedral of San
Ciriaco. This, too, the Austrians are
now attacking with some success, en-
dangering ten columns in the church
which are attributed to the ancient
temple and many twelfth century art
! screens. f,
In. 1917 the Austrians damaged the
castle and palace of Alberotanza al
Bari, the castle dating back to 1897;
the Abazia at Chiaravalle, the Basilica
and Museum at Aquileja, the Episopio
at Udine,. the Villa Soderini at Ner-
vsessa and the Tempo Canoviano at
| Possagne.
This year they repeated the attack
on the Tempio and bombed the library
at Bassano, which is full of the works
Of the sculptor Antonio Canova. They
have. also damaged the church of San
Nicolo at Trevtso. This church, built
in 1310-52, has famous tomb made
by Tullio Lombardo.
In the Venetian region the famous
st. Marks church has miraculously es-
capped damage. All the statues in the
interior of this church which could not
be removed have been covered with
bags stuffed with seaweed, until the
church looks like botanical garden in
winter clothes. The entire lower ex-
terror of St. Marks is hidden behind a
rampant of sandbags.
These are the principal buildings
which have suffered in the Venetian
region; Teatro Verdi (facade), Duomo
and Battistero (twice), Civic Museum
and basilica del Santo, Chapel of San
Giorgio, house of Ezzelino il Baldo.
church Of San Francesca, School of
Charity, house in Via Beato Pellegrino.
Palazza varson and Palazza Maldura'
all in Padova. In Venice in 1918
churches Of San Giovanni Paolo. San
Grisostome, Santi Simone Giuda,
Santi Andrea (ceiling), Chiesa dei
Frati (roof), San--.Toma, Casa della
| Seta, Palazzo Foscari,