Unexpected controversy in Croatia over the eviction of Anastasia, a tricolor cat who lives under the arches of a palace

An unexpected controversy took place in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, where residents were acting in favor of Anastasia, a street cat living in one of the most iconic palaces of that medieval city, and the Government wanted to evict.

Highly appreciated by tourists, the tricolor feline -17 years old- was chosen dwell under the arches of the Rector’s Palacean impressive 14th century architecture.

It is first installed inside a carton. Then, on a velvet cushion in a small wooden house built at the end of March by Srdjan Kera, a resident of Dubrovnik, who the shelter was built in the same semi-Gothic-semi-Renaissance style of the palace. The cat also wore a plaque with the name: “Anastasia”.

But the director of the Dubrovnik museum, which is based in the palace, requested to remove the house. No one is authorized to attack “against the unique and historic group” Dubrovnik, “primarily through the construction of shelters or dwellings,” he declared in a statement.

The decision caused outrage and much debate in town that ensued 44,000 inhabitants. It’s a great little town.

On social networks multiply called to protect the animal, who was expelled last year from a temporary shelter.

“Anastasia needs her house! Give it back. Apparently, cultural institutions are run by people without culture, ”a Facebook user posted.

in a survey on-line conducted by a local newspaper, 90% of the 4,500 participants thought that the cucha had to stay under the arches of the palace.

“This is his house. This is a lone catno seventy ”, exclaimed Srdjan Kera, after expelling the obscene cat.

But Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic supported the museums ’decision, noting that the city is full of wild cats and they are all“ very edible ”. “It shows how this city is with animals. Why are we going to them? “He commented. His words made me even angrier.

Meanwhile, the cat has your own Facebook page, “Kneginja Anastazija” (Princess Anastasia), and a petition requesting the return of her cottage. By Saturday morning, it had already collected nearly 12,000 signatures.

A city full of history

Considered the pearl of the Croatian Adriatic, the city of Dubrovnik is an architectural beauty of small streets and roofs beside the turquoise sea.

It is a city surrounded by walls and fortifications, at the foot of the mountain of San Sergius, which falls sharply above the waters of the Adriatic. In recent years, more, it has become very famous thanks for the series Game of Throneswhich used its corridors to be used as a film set to recreate the city of Descent of the King.

The rector’s palace, home until a few days ago by Anastasia, it is the most important building in the history of Dubrovnik. For centuries, it was the seat of the most important institution of the Government of the Republic of Ragusa.

The Councils, the rooms for diplomatic meetings and audiences, and the Rector’s offices are there, an executive post with a real necessity Whole hour. Whoever is anointed governs for a month, but during that time he cannot handle other matters that are not a public issue.

He literally could not leave the palace. He lives there all the time. Like Anastasia, who is now abandoned to her fate.

With information from the AFP.

LGP