Italy's looted treasures found in lawyer's home
Italian police have found a vast collection of the country's stolen historical gems in the home of a lawyer near Rome.
The collection, which included marble slabs, murals, bibles and statues, was amassed from at least 24 thefts over a number of years, Ansa reported.
The civil lawyer, who faces charges of possessing stolen goods, allegedly carried out the thefts from archaeological excavations and burial sites across Lazio, Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo and Tuscany.
The items, which also included crucifixes and paintings, dated from ancient Etruscan times to the Baroque period.
Police were able to ascertain that the items were stolen as newspaper clippings and photographs in connection with the thefts were also found at the lawyer's home in Grottarossa, on the outskirts of Rome.
Earlier this year, authorities in central Italy discovered a villa transformed into a private museum, housing hundreds of Roman artefacts allegedly stolen from the state.
Roman columns, statues, decorated marble and fragments of mosaic were found along with funeral plates and well-preserved terracotta vases.
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The collection, which included marble slabs, murals, bibles and statues, was amassed from at least 24 thefts over a number of years, Ansa reported.
The civil lawyer, who faces charges of possessing stolen goods, allegedly carried out the thefts from archaeological excavations and burial sites across Lazio, Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo and Tuscany.
The items, which also included crucifixes and paintings, dated from ancient Etruscan times to the Baroque period.
Police were able to ascertain that the items were stolen as newspaper clippings and photographs in connection with the thefts were also found at the lawyer's home in Grottarossa, on the outskirts of Rome.
Earlier this year, authorities in central Italy discovered a villa transformed into a private museum, housing hundreds of Roman artefacts allegedly stolen from the state.
Roman columns, statues, decorated marble and fragments of mosaic were found along with funeral plates and well-preserved terracotta vases.
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