Valuable historical artworks have been stolen from a museum located in Sicily, Italy.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing the Italian news agency ANSA, investigative authorities are currently exploring the theory that the pieces were stolen based on a specific order for the "black market."
Preliminary reports indicate that the perpetrators managed to enter the museum without triggering the security and alarm systems. Museum director Marisa Mercurio estimates that the incident occurred around 9:50 p.m. local time on Saturday. She described the theft as a significant loss for the museum, the city, and global cultural heritage.
Among the stolen items is the "San Gregorio Polyptych," painted in 1473 by Antonello da Messina, a renowned representative of the early Renaissance. The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. Additionally, a small double-sided panel featuring depictions of the Madonna and Christ, believed to have been used for private worship, was also reported stolen.
Federico Basile, the mayor of Messina, condemned the incident, emphasizing that the city will not allow its historical heritage to be plundered and that all available resources are being mobilized to identify the perpetrators.
The theft in Sicily is part of a concerning trend of museum heists across Europe. Recently, Italy's specialized unit for art crimes announced the recovery of three works by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse that had been stolen from a museum near Parma. Furthermore, late last year, a criminal group infiltrated the Louvre Museum in Paris, reportedly stealing historical jewelry valued at millions of euros, highlighting the ongoing security challenges facing cultural institutions worldwide.
