by InTrieste
A remarkable collection of 600 antiquities, valued at approximately €60 million, has been returned to Italy and unveiled in Rome on Tuesday. This repatriation marks a significant victory in the battle against illicit antiquities trafficking, facilitated by the collaboration between Italian authorities and their counterparts in the United States.
The recovered treasures, which had been smuggled out of Italy and sold illicitly in the U.S., were presented at the Central Institute for Restoration’s headquarters. The collection encompasses a wide range of artefacts, including statues, vases, paintings, and bronzes, with archaeological pieces dating from the ninth century BC to the second century AD. Many of these items were illicitly excavated by tombaroli (tomb raiders) in central-southern Italy.
In addition to being taken from archaeological sites, Italy’s culture ministry disclosed that the stolen works of art had also been looted from churches, museums, and private homes. These priceless items were then trafficked out of the country to be sold on the black market in the U.S.
The successful recovery of these artefacts was the result of a concerted effort by Italy’s Carabinieri art squad—officially known as the Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC)—along with the New York County district attorney’s office and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Italy’s culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, praised the collaboration, stating, “Today is a beautiful day for the nation’s cultural heritage.” He emphasized that the return of these artefacts would help “heal many wounds that have opened over the years in the areas where they were stolen, depriving the communities of important pieces of their identity.”
U.S. ambassador to Italy, Jack Markell, highlighted the strong commitment of the United States to protecting and preserving global cultural heritage. “Since 2001, the United States has fulfilled a bilateral agreement with Italy to combat antiquities trafficking,” Markell stated. “Together, we continue to work to protect, preserve, and promote culture and the arts.”
In 2022, Italy inaugurated the Museo dell’Arte Salvata (Museum of Rescued Art), dedicated to showcasing ancient artefacts looted from Italian archaeological sites and trafficked abroad before being rescued by art police. The museum, located in the Octagonal Hall at the Baths of Diocletian, is part of the National Roman Museum network in Rome.
For more details on the latest repatriated works of art, visit the Italian culture ministry’s website.
