Buildings which survived the earthquake were burnt down by the ensuing fires. It was a national disaster, killing 162 people and making thousands others homeless. Over the following three years, the town was completely rebuilt, in the architecture of the time, Art Deco.
Art Deco architecture is pretty distinctive; angular and geometric shapes, colourful bordering on gaudy. One building in this style easily catches the eye, but an entire town like it is just bonkers.
