The place looked much like an ordinary hangar, or a warehouse, lost among many others in a suburban area.

Yet, instead of raw materials or finished goods, it was filled with the most precious gems the region of Umbria has had for centuries - paintings, statues, altarpieces, artifacts, wooden frames, crosses, reliquaries and much more.

The three major earthquakes that have struck central Italy since late August, and especially the latest and strongest one on Oct 30, with its epicenter near the ancient city of Norcia, forced authorities to face many emergencies.