Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Mantua Palazzo Aldegatti's Cat

Palazzo Aldegatti's Cat

This decoration above a door, an unofficial family crest, is said to come alive during the night to try to get free of the stone.

Mantua, Italy

L Lakehurst profile photo
Added By
Lakehurst
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Lakehurst / Atlas Obscura User
  Lakehurst / Atlas Obscura User
  Lakehurst / Atlas Obscura User
  Lakehurst / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

Above the main door of the Palazzo Aldegatti in Mantua, there is a natural size cat's head that has watched over the building's comings and goings since 1540.

The cat's head is a joke on the family's surname, in Italian gatti means "cats," and the portal decoration is an unofficial family crest. The story behind the cat claims that the head comes alive during the night, trying to escape from its stone jail and it sometimes meowing to try to draw attention to its condition. Its facial expression—something between an expression of annoyance and a crazed look—could be the origin of the legend.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Community Contributors

L Lakehurst profile photo

Added By

Lakehurst

Published

June 21, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://mantovastoria.wordpress.com/2017/07/02/5-gatti-o-particolari-felini-a-mantova/

Related Tags

Cats Architecture Puns Medieval
Palazzo Aldegatti's Cat
20 Via Giovanni Chiassi
Mantua, 46100
Italy
45.15566, 10.789172
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Sant'Andrea's Hare

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Rotonda di San Lorenzo

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Crypt of San Sebastiano's Church

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mantua

Mantua

Italy

Places 15
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Sant'Andrea's Hare

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Rotonda di San Lorenzo

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Crypt of San Sebastiano's Church

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mantua

Mantua

Italy

Places 15
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Muurhuizen (Wall Houses)

    Amersfoort, Netherlands

    Muurhuizen (Wall Houses)

    An entire street built on the foundation of the first wall of Amersfoort. It has 61 national heritage sites in the street itself.

  • Great Gatehouse

    Bristol, England

    Great Gatehouse

    This 12th-century gatehouse has survived England’s many religious upheavals

  • St Peter's Church

    Barton-upon-Humber, England

    St Peter's Church

    The first building to be positively identified as Anglo-Saxon in origin.

  • Local History Museum of Treuenbrietzen

    Treuenbrietzen, Germany

    Local History Museum of Treuenbrietzen

    Explore Treuenbrietzen’s past inside a restored medieval chapel with artifacts, crafts, and a historic pharmacy.

  • Kirkkasik Bedesten inside

    Tarsus, Turkey

    Kirkkasik Bedesten

    This 16th-century covered market is still open everyday.

  • Santuario de la Virgen de Jaraba

    Jaraba, Spain

    Santuario de la Virgen de Jaraba

    A medieval shrine set into a towering canyon wall.

  • The collégiale Sainte Gertrude.

    Nivelles, Belgium

    Collegiate Church of St. Gertrude

    The patron saint of cats founded this stunning Romanesque church in the 7th century.

  • The cliffside village of Rocamadour.

    Rocamadour, France

    Rocamadour

    This medieval village clings to a cliff in southwestern France.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.