During the operation carried out by Carabinieri were arrested members of the international group, which included Ukrainians and Argentineans. Marino Massimo de Caro, the library director, is also suspected to be involved into the theft.
Police suspects them in the theft of hundreds of manuscripts and ancient folios on theology and philosophy. All lost copies are dated by 16-19 centuries. A key link in the criminal chain is the director of the library. He is suspected by the police to have stolen the rare books. The theft was revealed thanks to the library staff, who transferred a record of a theft to the police department.
Currently the library is managed and guarded by the specialists of the Vittorio Emanuele III National Museum in Naples.
According to the investigators, in total from the depository were stolen 257 books, which may soon appear in the black market. According to the ANSA agency, Naples police asked the international community for support in finding the missing artifacts.
Girolamini library is located in the eponymous monastery complex. The church and Girolamini convent are among the main attractions of Naples located in the heart of the city along the Via Duomo street. In addition to the library, monastery complex is known for its collection of paintings, which main exhibits are works of José de Ribera.
Girolamini library is one of the richest depositories of Italy. It was founded in 1586 and over the centuries has accommodated a large unique collection of more than 160 thousands of manuscripts, music books and other.
Ilya Kalachev
Date: 28/05/2012
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