The ½ûÂþÌìÌà city of L'Aquila is holding a series of events to mark the third anniversary of the earthquake that killed 308 and left 60,000 homeless.
The night's events include a pause for reflection at 03.32 CET (0132 GMT) - the exact moment the 6.3 magnitude earthquake devastated the centre of the medieval city and surrounding villages. Most of those made homeless have since been rehoused in temporary accommodation, but the centre of L'Aquila remains boarded up with many buildings still considered unsafe.
Recently, the ½ûÂþÌìÌà town launched a bid to become a hi-tech European city with local architects working in collaboration with the council on a "Smart City" project to rebuild the city using cutting-edge technology and including a pedestrian city-centre with bike sharing schemes, buildings fitted with solar panels and a facility to allow local inhabitants to consult their doctor via video link.
The project received the backing of Prime Minister Mario Monti's government but many of those people still living in temporary housing are very skeptical about it. Nearly a quarter of L'Aquila's pre-earthquake population of 75,000 is still living in temporary wooden houses, hotels, army barracks and new buildings located in remote areas far from public services. Thousands more have moved away altogether and, according to officials, only four families have moved back into the city centre.
This situation has lead to frustrations for thousands of people who've been staging demonstrations over these past three years choosing wheelbarrows as a symbol of their wish to clear the city of its rubble and bring it back to life.
There is also widespread skepticism about managing to get the funding required for the project considering Italy's current financial crisis.
Despite misgivings, some Aquilani say the plan is their only hope of reviving the city. Many believe it could take up to 10 years for life to return to normal.
