Important stolen artworks returned from Italy to Spain with support of Eurojust

Eurojust has played a pivotal role in returning 66 stolen historic artworks from Italy to Spain. In one case, 65 precious paintings and an altarpiece were returned with the support of European Investigation Orders (EIOs), among other measures.

In an unrelated case, a wooden carved statue, stolen from a church in Palencia, Spain, in 1979, was handed over to the Spanish authorities following its discovery and subsequent investigations in Genoa. Eurojust assisted with the issuance and execution of a freezing order.

The wooden statue depicts the evangelist Saint Luke and dates from the 15th century. It was stolen from the Santa Eugenia de Astudillo church in Palencia, to which it will be returned in due course. After its theft, it was bought by an art collector in Genoa, who was unaware that it had been stolen.

When relatives of the collector put it up for auction in 2022, the theft came to light, and its origin was established as the church in Palencia. Following a freezing order issued by the Spanish authorities and with the support of Eurojust, the restitution procedure began. The statue was formally returned to the Spanish authorities last week.At the same time, the Italian authorities handed over a series of 65 paintings and an altarpiece to their Spanish counterparts. These artworks were discovered in the villa of a deceased German collector and his wife at Lago Maggiore in Italy. After his death, a foundation initiated civil proceedings to obtain the historic paintings. In 2023, these proceedings led to investigations by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

These investigations revealed that the artworks had also been stolen and originated from Spain or had Spanish owners. Eurojust provided support in this case through its Italian and Spanish National Desks, assisting with the execution of EIOs and enabling cross-border judicial cooperation.

The investigations and actions relating to the two cases of stolen artwork were carried out by or requested by the following authorities:

• Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Offices (PPOs) of Genoa, Turin and Verbania; Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Comando Tutela Patrimonio Culturale)
• Spain: Investigative Judge of Court no. 2 of Palencia; Investigative Judge of Court no. 1 of Marbella; Civil Guard – Historical Heritage Section (Guardia Civil – Sección de Patrimonio Histórico)