The Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage have handed over to the director of the municipal library "F. De Nobili", Michele Marullo, the antique booklet "Le mura di Roma" by Cesare Quarenghi, published in the capital in 1880 by Ermanno Loescher.
The work, according to the still visible stamp, originally belonged to the "Military Library of Catanzaro". In recent times it was held illegally and then seized as part of a criminal proceeding by the public prosecutor's office at the court of Santa Maria Capua Vetere. It was the latter that ordered its release and delivery to the director of the city’s municipal library.
"Le mura di Roma" is not the work of an archaeologist but, as the publishers write, "of an intelligent lover of national things." In short, we are faced with the work of a true enthusiast, who, thanks to careful and documented research, managed to produce what we would today call a small tourist guide, but so well made that it met, at the time, the favor of a prestigious publishing house.
"We are grateful to the Naples unit of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage which, in collaboration with the Cosenza unit, has returned to us a precious object that from today returns to our library heritage." With these words, the Councillor for Culture, Donatella Monteverdi, commented on the formal handover of the booklet, which took place in the presence of Daniela Palaia, councilor delegated to the Enhancement of the historic center, and the mayor's chief of staff, Salvatore Bullotta. "The carabinieri who deal with the protection of cultural heritage," Monteverdi added, "carry out an indispensable task; they are our allies in ensuring that citizens can enjoy assets fundamental to the growth of the community. Some of which, unfortunately, are illegally taken away from their function and hence the importance of the joint action of the Institutions."