The scam against the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the non-profit organization that manages the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s bell tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, brought in 30 million euros in six months. Nine people were stopped throughout Italy this morning by the police, on the orders of the Brescia Prosecutor’s Office, which hypothesizes a vast round of invoices for non-existent operations, money laundering and self-laundering. Over 500 thousand euros in cash have been seized, in addition to the 200 thousand euros seized last September from a Chinese couple.
The State Police is carrying out nine arrests of criminal suspects issued by the Brescia Prosecutor’s Office in the provinces of Brescia, Milan, Bergamo, Lodi, Prato, Rieti and Vicenza, under investigation for the crimes of issuing invoices for non-existent transactions, money laundering and self-laundering.
Searches are also underway against numerous companies involved in the false invoicing and money laundering circuit. A tenth recipient of the provision is untraceable.
The investigations of the Brescia Flying Squad – started in March 2025 following a millionaire scam perpetrated against the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, a non-profit organization that manages the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence – would have discovered an illegal turnover which, over the course of approximately six months, would have produced an illegal transfer of money estimated at around 30 million euros.
The details of the operation will be disclosed during the press conference to be held at 10.30 am in the Prosperi room of the Brescia Police Headquarters.
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