A musical instrument museum in southern Italy has been destroyed by fire in a possible arson attack.
The Museo dello Strumento Musicale in Reggio Calabria, which was founded 17 years ago, housed more than 800 instruments, including folk instruments from the local area, as well as scores and books.
In a statement on the museum’s website, the museum director Pasquale Mauro said: ‘The fire in the museum is like burning our children’s school, it is an attack on their ability to develop culturally.’
After being initially cordoned off and declared unsafe, the museum will open its doors on Sunday 10 November for volunteers to help clean it up. They have also asked for anyone with photos or videos of the museum to send them in to create an archive.
On 16 November, there will also be a ‘musical walk’ across the city for which the directors are inviting local people to bring along their own instruments to play. The walk will finish at the museum, where there will be a performance.
You can follow updates on the museum's Facebook page (in Italian).
Photos: Ken Curatola