Montese (Modena), August 14, 2026 – There is an almost indescribable calm at Agriturismo Il Palazzino, in Maserno di Montese, surrounded by potato fields and lots, lots of greenery. The heat of these days, up there, almost seems like a memory: the air is cooler, silence envelops everything, and it really feels like entering another world. Then you enter the restaurant and it’s natural to expect a meow.
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After all, some time ago the cats were really flesh and blood: seven, to be precise. Today, however, they have become three thousand. They don’t purr, don’t ask for food, and above all, don’t cause trouble. They are all motionless, but they have practically invaded every corner of the place: furniture, tables, bookshelves, and cupboards included. Francesco Guccini also fell in love with this collection: when he learned of its existence, he wanted to see it with his own eyes.
The singer-songwriter, recently deceased, deeply loved cats. In particular, at the agriturismo Il Maestrone he was struck by a painting dedicated to a feline.
Three thousand collectible cats
They are collectible cats, of every shape, size, and material: wood, porcelain, ceramic, metal and even Swarovski. A very rare collection, owned by the venue’s managers, Chiara Mattioli and Mario Milani, started 27 years ago, right with the opening of the agriturismo. And apparently destined to grow even more. “Every time one of our customers goes abroad and sees decorative felines in shops, they think of us, buy them, and give them to us as gifts.” And so, year after year, trip after trip, gift after gift, the cats have increased to reach a number that almost makes you smile: three thousand. Chiara shows us a piece of furniture.
A cupboard dedicated to cats
“This is a cupboard entirely dedicated to cats. We had to buy furniture to put the cats on.” An evidently unavoidable necessity. “Even our customers have become passionate about our cat figurines and often come with specimens as gifts. But also glasses with cat images, sugar bowls, cups. We also have cat necklace holders and a wooden calendar.” The feline passion, in short, knows no boundaries and not even continents. The bookshelf is also completely occupied.
The cats come from all over the world
“They come from Paris, Berlin, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, in short, from much of the world.” To follow Chiara’s story you have to constantly look up, down, and turn your head. Every corner hides another cat and every cat seems to have a story to tell. There are two, in particular, that attract attention. “They come from Ferrara, where there is a sculptor who makes only ceramics depicting cats. Those are unique pieces. We bought them.” And it’s not over. Actually, “Look here, this piece of furniture is full, there are many, maybe a few hundred.” A true feline colony, only no one runs, no one jumps, and above all no one scratches. Then the eye falls on a kitten that, almost ashamed of so much confusion, has toppled over. “Damn, this little one is almost invisible, it has toppled over. Let’s put it back in its place.” And even a small domestic accident becomes an opportunity to discover another specimen. “This is a doorstop padded with cloth that we use in winter to close the drafts from the door.” Here, evidently, even the cats have a practical function.
The painting that struck Francesco Guccini
The collection does not stop at the furniture with six very cute kittens. On a wall there is also a painting, perhaps an oil, depicting a beautiful big cat, intent on observing from above this vast family of felines. And right in front of this collection, a few years ago, even Francesco Guccini, recently deceased, stopped. The singer-songwriter was struck by the number of cats he had before his eyes.
