Sicily

A daring art heist is shaking Italy: four works by Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina were stolen over the weekend from the Regional Museum in Messina, Sicily. Italian police have opened an investigation, with authorities exploring potential mafia involvement, as reported by Reuters.

A 29-year-old American tourist was killed by a lightning strike while hiking in an area on Mount Etna that was closed to visitors due to volcanic activity. Authorities noted that in recent decades, more people have died on the mountain from lightning strikes than from eruptions.

Archaeologists have discovered a rare 2,400-year-old gold coin during emergency excavations at the Montedoro necropolis near Agrigento, Sicily. Minted in Syracuse in the late 5th century BCE, the coin provides a unique glimpse into the turbulent period of conflict between Greek cities and Carthage.

Three wooden panels from the 'Polittico di San Gregorio' by Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in Sicily. Security footage captured the intruders breaking in with flashlights. A local official stated that the theft was likely commissioned.

At the peak of the tourist season, Mount Etna is spewing volcanic ash that endangers aircraft. The airport in Catania, the gateway to Sicily, has been forced to suspend operations at least until tomorrow. Passengers are being diverted to Palermo, where they are struggling to find ground transportation.