Sicilian M5S deputies demand action on museum security after Antonello da Messina theft

Members of the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) in the Sicilian Regional Assembly (Ars) have denounced the state of cultural heritage in Sicily following the theft of precious works by Antonello da Messina from the Museo Regionale di Messina (MuMe).

Deputies Stefania Campo and Roberta Schillaci have filed an inquiry and are calling for an urgent meeting of the Fifth Commission and a dedicated session of the Regional Assembly. They criticized a perceived silence regarding the theft and the broader vulnerabilities of the region's museum system. The deputies highlighted a “geography of abandonment,” citing several closed or understaffed sites, including Palazzo Mirto, the Gela Archaeological Museum, and the Caltanissetta Regional Museum.

Concerns were raised regarding security even at sophisticated sites like MuMe, with reports of inadequate guarding at Palazzo Abatellis and claims that certain artifacts in an unnamed museum were being secured with simple wire. Meanwhile, the Messina Prosecutor's Office continues to investigate the theft of four works, three of which belong to the San Gregorio Polyptych.