Sky Arte Documentary Chronicles Massimo De Caro's Theft of 2,000 Rare Books from Naples' Girolamini Library

A new documentary titled "Ladro di libri" (Book Thief) premieres on Sky Arte on Saturday, December 19, detailing the unprecedented theft of over 2,000 rare books from the Biblioteca dei Girolamini in Naples. Directed by journalist Antonio Castaldo, the film reveals how Massimo De Caro, appointed director of the library in 2011, systematically looted its collection within a year. De Caro, a skilled forger and con artist, operated a network involving Russian magnates, cardinals, politicians, Argentine printers, and antiquarian booksellers. He also forged two priceless editio princeps of Galileo, deceiving the academic world. Despite scandals, he became a consultant to the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage, using the position to steal and replace originals with fakes. The documentary features security camera footage shown for the first time outside the trial, along with interviews with key figures including professors Tomaso Montanari and Filippo Pontani, who raised the alarm, and prosecutor Giovanni Melillo, who led the investigation.