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Are you a cat lover? If the answer is positive, when visiting Rome, you cannot miss the famous Roman Cat Sanctuary of Largo Torre Argentina. It is something you can only run into in Rome: a lively cat community in the very heart of Rome, located in the midst of archeological treasures!

The archaeological area of Largo Argentina was excavated in 1929, revealing the remains of ancient Roman temples, the very place where Julius Ceasar was stabbed to death in 44 B.C! The excavation area, covered and protected from the weather and the curious, offered the perfect shelter to the stray cats of the area, who were quite numerous at the time, and who soon founded a “home base� there. Soon some cat lovers made their appearance and started regularly feeding the cats on their own expense.

This went on until 1993, and the cat community prospered, building up a certain fame partly thanks to its magnificent surroundings – certainly many a per cat would envy the historical setting and splendid tradition of these “Ceasar’s heirs�! The cats have had some quite remarkable supporters and admirers, for example Anna Magnani, who loved to feed them and keep them company during her breaks when working in the neighbouring Teatro Argentina.

In 1993 things began to get more organised: the city of Rome gave a primitive shelter space to the “cat-people�, and finally, in 1995, they managed to get some financial and practical support from the UK. This was a turning point for the activity of the activists: first they started collecting little donations from the tourists visiting the cats, and eventually they even started organising fund raising dinners! Today the activity is flourishing even though, of course, funds are constantly needed. So when you visit the “Sanctuary�, don’t forget to leave your own little offering if you care for cats. If you wish to do something more, you can for example adopt a Roman cat!

The Cat Sanctuary is located in Largo Torre Argentina in the historical center of Rome, nearby Navona Square and Venice Square (see the location or Largo Argentina on a Rome city map). From the Termini station you can catch the bus number 40 to get there in a few minutes, or just stop by on your way to the Vatican.

You can find comfortable and stylish accommodation – even if maybe not quite as fabulous as the historical home of these cats! – at the Rome Hotel Des Artistes near the Termini station, the central location of which allows you to visit easily Largo Argentina as well as any other Rome attractions. Another great option is the Rome budget-hotel Nice Hotel.