Italy and US collaborate to repatriate stolen artefacts.

Some 600 antiquities stolen from Italy and returned with the help of authorities in the US went on display in Rome on Tuesday in a repatriation valued at around €60 million.

The treasures, which had been smuggled out of Italy and sold illicitly in the US, were presented at the headquarters of the Central Institute for Restoration.

The artefacts, ranging from statues and vases to paintings and bronzes, include archaeological pieces dating from between the ninth century BC and the second century AD, many of which were stolen by tombaroli (tomb raiders) in central-southern Italy.

In addition to archaeological sites, the culture ministry said the repatriated works of art were stolen from churches, museums and private homes before being trafficked out of Italy to the US.

Presentate oggi, #28maggio, all’Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, 600 opere d’arte rimpatriate dagli Stati Uniti dai @_Carabinieri_ TPC, dal valore economico stimato in circa 60 milioni di euro.
Tutte le info: https://t.co/D4X6ciTezA#MiC #CarabinieriTPC pic.twitter.com/ZyWYP78Q7D

— Ministero della Cultura (@MiC_Italia) May 28, 2024

The artefacts were recovered thanks to the efforts of Italy's Carabinieri art squad - the Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC) together with the New York County district attorney's office and the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Hailing the work of the Carabinieri and US authorities, Italy's culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said: "Today is a beautiful day for the nation's cultural heritage", adding that the return of the artefacts would "make it possible to 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."

Italy has an incredible cultural and artistic heritage: safeguarding it requires care and vigilance. Thanks to the collaboration between the Carabinieri Corps for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations @HSI_HQ, today we celebrate 600 stolen… pic.twitter.com/4ZV8ewEZ6I

— Ambassador Jack Markell (@USAmbItaly) May 28, 2024

"The United States is strongly committed to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage throughout the world" - the US ambassador to Italy, Jack Markell, stated - "Since 2001, the United States has fulfilled a bilateral agreement with Italy to combat antiquities trafficking, and together we continue to work to protect, preserve, and promote culture and the arts."

In 2022 Italy opened a new museum showcasing ancient artefacts looted from Italian archaeological sites and trafficked abroad before being rescued by art police.

The Museo dell'Arte Salvata (Museum of Rescued Art) is housed in the Octagonal Hall at the Baths of Diocletian, part of the National Roman Museum network in Rome.

For more details on the latest repatriated works of art see the Italian culture ministry website.

Photo Ministero della Cultura.