The 12 archaeological finds, including an Apulian crater from the 4th century BC, seized by the Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Venice Carabinieri, have been officially returned. The assets are destined for the Vito Capialbi National Archaeological Museum of Vibo Valentia, which «will be prepared to host a specific section linked to the protection and recovery of the archaeological heritage».
Vibo Valentia’s link with the seizures of cultural assets
The director of the Calabrian National Museums, Fabrizio Sudano, spoke about it this morning in connection with a press conference at Palazzo Ducale in Venice, underlining that Vibo Valentia “has a particular connection with the seizures and with the materials that come from this type of Carabinieri operations”.
The Apulian crater from the 4th century BC: a masterpiece already restored in antiquity
The director of the Vibo museum, Michele Mazza, added that in the context of a specific project intended for this type of find, «the crater will be the master. It is a true masterpiece,” he said.
«The restorer’s analysis highlighted that it was already the subject of a restoration in the 4th century: they wanted to maintain it already in antiquity either because it was intended for an important figure or because even then it was a masterpiece».
The investigations of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of the Carabinieri
In 2025 there were four, including this one, the recovery operations of archaeological finds carried out by the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit. As explained by the commander of the TPC of Venice, Emanuele Meleleo, the finds were discovered thanks to an inspection activity carried out in August 2024, during a monitoring of the historic buildings of Venice in which restoration work is underway.
Clandestine excavations and return to the State
«We reported the findings to the judicial authority and it emerged that they were not legitimately detained, but were the proceeds of clandestine excavations and subsequent illicit transfers. In December 2024 – he added – we carried out searches in Venice and Turin to recover the objects, then in March the judicial authority granted the release of seizure in favor of the State. With the subsequent decisions of the Ministry of Culture, a valorisation process has been established in favor of the archaeological museum of Vibo Valentia”.
The support of the Superintendencies and institutions involved
During the investigative activity, the Carabinieri made use of technical examinations of the Abap Superintendency for the metropolitan city of Venice, of the operational and logistical support of the Abap Superintendency for the metropolitan city of Turin and of the Royal Museums of Turin, and of the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office of the State of Venice.