by Redazione 16/10/2026
Categories: Books / Disclaimer
Giunti Editore has published *Gatti di Pompei*, a book produced in collaboration with the Archaeological Park that uses photographs by Silvia Vacca to chronicle the life of the cat colony at the UNESCO site, which consists of about forty to fifty cats.
In Pompeii, the cats that live in the archaeological site are taking center stage in… a photo book! Titled *Gatti di Pompei* (Cats of Pompeii ), the book—published by Giunti Editore in collaboration with the Pompeii Archaeological Park—chronicles, through images and text, the daily life of the cat colony at the UNESCO site. The Pompeii Archaeological Park itself announced the publication via its social media channels. The cats, which over the years have become a familiar sight for visitors and stars on social media, are portrayed as they roam the ancient city, among domus, gardens, and Roman streets.
The book is based on photographs donated to the Park by archaeologist and photographer Silvia Vacca and offers a new perspective on the site through the lens of the animals that have come to define its landscape. The photographs document the cats in moments of tranquility, when the streets of the ancient city fall silent, capturing scenes of daily life in the settlement and offering a less conventional view of Pompeii. What emerges is a portrait of a place where the preservation of archaeological heritage goes hand in hand with care for the animals that have lived there for years.
The cat colony currently numbers between forty and fifty cats. Their presence is monitored through a management and protection system designed to balance the animals’ well-being with the preservation of archaeological remains and visitor safety. The Park also works to prevent and combat animal abandonment, including through its own video surveillance system.
These care activities are made possible by a collaboration between the Archaeological Park of Pompeii andthe nonprofit organization Archeogatti Onlus, chaired by Antonella Carotenuto. The organization is committed to providing daily care for the animals, with the support of veterinarians from the Local Health Authority (ASL) and the Park’s security staff. Their work includes spay-and-neuter campaigns, health checks, preventing abandonment, and managing the colony’s feeding. The association also facilitates the adoption of some of the cats living in the archaeological area, affectionately called “archaeologists.”
This book aims to help support these activities. You can support Archeogatti Onlus by making a donation to the BancoPosta account 001070667322 (IBAN: IT04X0760103400001070667322). Information on adoption procedures is also available on the association’s website.
The presence of cats at the archaeological site also offers insights into the history of the relationship between humans and animals. Ongoing archaeological research, in fact, provides evidence to shed light on the relationship between humans and cats in the ancient world. Today, in Pompeii—visited by people from all over the world—these animals continue to be a recognizable and appreciated presence, woven into the daily life of a place where the preservation of historical artifacts coexists with care for living beings. *Cats of Pompeii* is available at the Pompeii Archaeological Park’s gift shops, in brick-and-mortar and online bookstores, and through Giunti Editore’s distribution channels.
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| In Pompeii, cats are taking center stage in... a photo book! |
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