For travellers who find themselves more captivated by a stray cat than by a centuries-old monument, Rome now offers a solution. ArcheoRunning, a company that has organised guided running tours of the Eternal City since 2016, has launched a new itinerary focused on the city’s feline inhabitants.
The tour, led by art historian and ArcheoRunning founder Isabella Calidonna, covers six kilometres and begins between 6 am and 7 am, before the city’s streets fill with traffic and tourists. Participants start at the Temple of Isis and Serapis archaeological site in Campo Marzio — a fitting departure point, given that ancient Egyptians regarded cats as sacred beings.
Ancient Ruins and Cat Colonies
From there, runners proceed to the Area Sacra of Largo Argentina, a site that hosts a recognised feline colony. The route then climbs Capitoline Hill for a panoramic view before heading to the Colosseum. The final stop is the Pyramid of Cestius, where additional cats await.
Calidonna described the tour as “for those who love getting lost, noticing details, and running slowly enough to truly see.” The pace is deliberately relaxed, allowing participants to observe both the archaeological remains and the animals that have made them home.
Rome is not alone in its reputation for cat-loving visitors. Istanbul and Kotor are also known for their large stray cat populations, but the Italian capital’s combination of ancient ruins and organised feline care makes it distinctive. Many of the colonies visited on the tour are managed by local volunteers who feed and monitor the animals.
Prices for the tour start at €50 per person, based on a group of five. ArcheoRunning also offers other themed runs, including a “Rome by Night” option and a “Vatican Museums” route.
For those planning a longer stay in Italy, the tour can be combined with other cultural activities. The Lisbon Book Fair, for instance, recently drew nearly a million visitors to Parque Eduardo VII, demonstrating the continent’s appetite for cultural events.
As Europe’s tourism sector continues to recover, niche experiences like this one cater to travellers seeking something beyond the standard sightseeing checklist. The running tour offers a way to see Rome’s landmarks while engaging with a lesser-known aspect of its urban ecology.
