Museums donate to relief effort

ITALY’S STATE museums are donating their proceeds on Sunday to relief and reconstruction efforts in the area devastated by an earthquake.

The 6.2-magnitude quake on Wednesday flattened three medieval towns in central Italy, destroying not only private homes but also churches and other centuries-old cultural treasures.

Culture minster Dario Franceschini appealed to Italians to “go to museum in a sign of solidarity with people affected by the earthquake.” The appeal on Twitter is at #museums4italy.

It is one of several efforts that have sprung up to help Amatrice and other towns rebuild.