Art heist in Italy: masterpieces worth millions stolen from a museum in Sicily

Unknown intruders broke into the regional museum in Messina, Sicily, overnight and stole works by Antonello da Messina, including three panels from the Polyptych of San Gregorio and a rare double-sided panel. The thieves bypassed the alarm systems. Police are investigating, and museum director Marisa Mercurio expressed shock. Earlier this year, the Culture Ministry purchased 'Ecce Homo' for about 12 million euros.

During the night, unknown intruders broke into the regional museum in the city of Messina, Sicily, and stole works of great artistic and historical value by Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina. This was reported by the city administration. The thieves operated with a high degree of precision and skill, managing to disable or bypass the alarm systems and penetrate the exhibition halls. Among the stolen items: three of the five panels of the Polyptych of San Gregorio, as well as a rare double-sided panel of the Madonna and Christ, taken from a secured display case. The Italian police have opened a wide-ranging investigation and are trying to reconstruct the smuggling route and investigate how the security was breached. The museum director, Marisa Mercurio, said: "We are shocked by what happened. This is an enormous loss for the museum, the city, the community, and the entire art world." Antonello da Messina (1479–1430), a native of Messina, is considered one of the pioneers of the early Renaissance. His works are rare and sought after: earlier this year, the Culture Ministry in Rome purchased his painting 'Ecce Homo' for about 12 million euros.