(ANSA) - MADRID, JUN 16 - A triangle of investigators from three countries was served, namely Spain, Italy and the USA.
But it was worth it.
It is the discovery of a small Roman altar, stolen in 1962 from the Archaeological Museum of Tarragona and then ended up in the hands of a private individual in the United States, returned to its original place of custody today.
A happy ending seven years after the report that had started the investigations, arrived from the carabinieri.
In fact, it was precisely the Arma that recognized the presence of the altar, in white marble and 12 centimeters high, in the catalog of works sold by an American auction house.
Thanks to subsequent investigations by the National Spanish Police and the US agency Ice, it then came to light that the find had first been incorporated into a British collection, then sold by an auction house in the United Kingdom to one of the United States.
Finally, the piece was sold to a private citizen, who decided to return it voluntarily, explains an official note.
The altar was returned to the museum of Tarragona with an official ceremony, which was attended by the consul in Barcelona Alessandra Di Pippo, the sub-delegate of the Spanish government in Tarragona Joan Sabaté Borràs, the director of the Museo Archeologico Mònica Borrell, the head of the Historical Police Brigade Spanish national team, Montserratde Pedro Esteban, Lieutenant Colonel Luigi Spadaro and Chief Brigadier Fabio Di Prospero.
This event takes place after Spain returned to Italy last week a wooden painting and sculpture from the 16th-17th centuries stolen from Bologna and Lecce respectively and found in the Iberian country.
(HANDLE).