Celebrating U.S.-Italian Cooperation in the Protection of Cultural Heritage. Repatriation Ceremony

Italy and the United States have an enduring relationship in combating cultural property trafficking and protecting cultural heritage around the world. We collaborate to preserve art, antiquities, and cultural objects through joint law enforcement efforts, academic programs and outreach initiatives.

On October 29, 2020, Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio and Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs signed a bilateral cultural property agreement, marking 20 years of collaboration in this field. This Memorandum of Understanding, renewing previous agreements dating back to 2001, provides Italian and U.S. authorities with the legal framework needed to successfully combat illicit trafficking of cultural property and to recover and return to Italy artifacts recovered in the United States.

On the occasion of the celebrations of 160 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and the United States, the Embassy of Italy is presenting an event dedicated to U.S.-Italian cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage, featuring the restitution of numerous priceless objects recovered by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and their U.S. counterparts, FBI and ICE.