According to the initial reconstruction, four pieces belonging to two major works were taken: three surviving panels from the Polyptych of San Gregorio and the precious Double-Sided Tablet, attributed to Antonello.

But the thieves did not manage to take everything.

Two of the stolen panels were abandoned on the pavement outside the museum. They were spotted shortly afterwards by two passers-by, who raised the alarm.

It was the first crucial breakthrough in the case.

A city looking somewhere else

The choice of Ferragosto night may not have been accidental. August 15 is one of the busiest days of the year in Messina. The Vara procession attracts thousands of residents and visitors from across Sicily, as well as from Calabria and Campania. For several hours, the city becomes a sea of people. Streets fill up, access routes become heavily congested, and following the movements of a single person or vehicle becomes extremely difficult. One of the most spectacular moments of the Vara, known as the “girata,” took place after 9:30 pm. The enormous votive structure is turned towards the Cathedral with the help of around one hundred “tiratori”, who traditionally pull it barefoot. At that moment, the eyes of Messina were fixed on the procession.

And the museum was closed.

In previous years, the Regional Museum had remained open during Ferragosto to capitalise on the influx of tourists. This year, however, it had closed at 1:30 pm. For anyone planning the operation, it may have been the perfect opportunity. The alarm was active. Guards were inside. One of the most striking aspects of the case is that the museum’s security system had not been switched off. The alarm was active. The surveillance cameras were operating. Security personnel were inside the building. And yet the thieves managed to enter and reach the room where the works were displayed. Images from the museum’s internal surveillance system have reportedly allowed investigators to identify at least two people involved in the theft. The thieves took three panels from the Polyptych of San Gregorio and the Double-Sided Tablet, which depicts the Madonna and Child with a praying Franciscan on one side and Christ in Pity on the other. The regional authorities had purchased the latter work for €14 million.

But something appears to have gone wrong during the escape.

Two of the panels from the Polyptych were abandoned outside, on the pavement. Two passers-by noticed them and immediately alerted the authorities. The discovery provided investigators with the first tangible evidence of what had happened. But the most important question remains unanswered: Who was waiting for the thieves outside the museum, and which route did they take to escape?

Did they flee by sea?

Investigators from the Mobile Squad are examining every possible escape route. One of the first leads points towards the sea. Directly opposite the museum is Ringo Beach, which has recently reopened to the public for bathing and recreation. From there, the thieves could theoretically have reached a small boat, a rigid inflatable or another vessel and quickly moved away from the shore. A little farther on are the ferry connections between Messina and Calabria. A crossing could have taken the thieves rapidly to the Italian mainland, from where they might have continued their journey.

But there is another, even more intriguing possibility.

Nearby is a marina where large and luxurious yachts are often moored. Given the extraordinary value of the stolen works, investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the paintings were transferred onto a private vessel and taken away by sea. The value of Antonello’s work is, after all, immense. One telling example is Ecce Homo, another work by Antonello da Messina that Sotheby’s sold for €14.9 million and was subsequently acquired by Italy’s Ministry of Culture. The works stolen in Messina are particularly significant because of their history and their direct connection to the city where Antonello was born and worked.

Or did they escape by road?

Investigators are also considering a land-based escape. Not far from the museum is the Giostra motorway interchange, which could provide a rapid route out of the city. Once again, the timing may have worked in the thieves’ favour. Between approximately 6 pm and 10 pm, while thousands of people were following the Vara, traffic and movement throughout Messina were heavily affected by the procession. Amid the crowds, cars, buses, tourists and residents, a getaway vehicle could potentially have blended into the surrounding traffic.