Italian ‘art cops,’ members of an elite Carabinieri unit, announced the recovery of 37 works, many of them looted from churches in the wake of the 2009 earthquakes in central Italy.
The works, dating from 16th to 20th centuries, were stolen in 16 different robberies over a 20-year period. Among the biggest recoveries were five altarpieces taken from two churches in L’Aquila, the town most devastated by one of the 2009 earthquakes.
The stolen works were found in villas along the Amalfi Coast, and three people have been charged over the thefts.
The squad, started in 1969 to combat art and antiquities crimes, has specially-trained officers and resources, and also provides training to similar units in other countries. Aside from recovering stolen works, they also respond to emergencies such as earthquakes to secure artworks before they disappear.
