Messina: 18th century painting stolen in 1988 returned to the church of Rapano

John

By John

The Carabinieri of the Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Palermo have returned to the Church of San Domenico in Rapano, a hamlet of the Municipality of Rometta, a painting depicting the “Madonna with Child, between Saints and Angels”. The work, attributed to the Sicilian school of the 18th century, was removed from the place of worship on 25 March 1988. The delivery ceremony took place on 1 October 2026 in the presence of the Archbishop of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela and Archimandrite of the SS. Salvatore, sanctioning the definitive return of the precious sacred art asset to its community of origin 38 years after the theft.