Carabinieri seize €8M art trove from Rome's historic Caffè Greco

On September 23, 2025, Italy's Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage confiscated artworks, sculptures, and antiques valued at €8 million from Antico Caffè Greco in Rome. This operation, executed in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Speciale ABAP di Roma, focused on items that Carlo Pellegrini, the café's administrator, had unlawfully removed and stored, breaching their original placement. The seizure comes after a legal dispute following the expiration of the lease in 2017, with Italy's Supreme Court ruling in favor of the property owner, Ospedale Israelitico, in July 2024. An eviction is set for November 26, 2025. Established in 1760, Antico Caffè Greco is the oldest café in Rome. The investigation is ongoing.