Thieves steal Renaissance artworks from Messina museum during Ferragosto holiday

Messina marked the traditional Sicilian holiday of Ferragosto on August 15 with street festivals and fireworks, but the celebrations were marred by a break‑in at the city’s MuMe museum. In the early hours of the holiday, unidentified thieves forced entry to the museum’s main gallery and removed two masterworks attributed to the 15th‑century painter Antonello da Messina, a cornerstone of the institution’s collection.

Police investigators recovered surveillance footage showing the perpetrators using a crowbar to pry open a display case before fleeing on foot. The stolen pieces, identified as “St. Jerome in His Study” and “The Virgin of the Annunciation,” are valued at several million euros and are listed on Italy’s cultural heritage theft register. Authorities have launched a coordinated search with Interpol and local law enforcement, urging the public to report any information that could lead to the recovery of the artworks. The incident underscores heightened security concerns for cultural sites during public holidays.