Siena students stage mock theft of painting from city hall.A dramatic scene unfolded in Siena on Tuesday afternoon as onlookers witnessed the mayor of the Italian city attempting to stop "thieves" making off with an iconic 14th-century painting.Fortunately the "robbery" was a prank organised by university students, with mayor Nicoletta Fabio in on the stunt, in what was a parody of the recent sensational Louvre heist. Footage of the incident showed six students, dressed in balaclavas and high-visibility vests, as they ran out of city hall before changing direction after being blocked by the mayor. The mayor of Siena Nicoletta Fabio participates, together with the Goliardi (a student fraternity), in a parody of the theft that took place at the Louvre Museum.Oct 28, 2025 pic.twitter.com/Rv2jWcpNa2 — Crazy Ass Moments in Italian Politics (@CrazyItalianPol) October 29, 2025 The painting in question was a replica of the central part of a fresco attributed to Simone Martini, depicting Guidoriccio da Fogliano, commander of the Sienese troops, on horseback during the Siege of Montemassi. The students, members of the Feriae Matricularum Senensium fraternity of the University of Siena, continued their caper through the city's streets after their daring exit from Palazzo Pubblico. Photo Gazzetta di Siena

A dramatic scene unfolded in Siena on Tuesday afternoon as onlookers witnessed the mayor of the Italian city attempting to stop "thieves" making off with an iconic 14th-century painting. Fortunately the "robbery" was a prank organised by university students, with mayor Nicoletta Fabio in on the stunt, in what was a parody of the recent sensational Louvre heist. Footage of the incident showed six students, dressed in balaclavas and high-visibility vests, as they ran out of city hall before changing direction after being blocked by the mayor. The mayor of Siena Nicoletta Fabio participates, together with the Goliardi (a student fraternity), in a parody of the theft that took place at the Louvre Museum.

Oct 28, 2025 — Crazy Ass Moments in Italian Politics (@CrazyItalianPol) The painting in question was a replica of the central part of a fresco attributed to Simone Martini, depicting Guidoriccio da Fogliano, commander of the Sienese troops, on horseback during the Siege of Montemassi. The students, members of the  fraternity of the University of Siena, continued their caper through the city's streets after their daring exit from Palazzo Pubblico. Photo Gazzetta di Siena