Casa de los Gatos
A miniature house set into a wall, built for the neighborhood's cats. An endearing, slightly absurd detail that becomes a knowing wink for anyone who spots it while wandering the Carmen.
In a narrow lane of the Barri del Carme, set into a wall on Calle del Museu, sits a tiny house barely half a metre tall: tiled roof, balcony, little windows, a small fountain, even a sign. This is the Casa de los Gatos (the "House of the Cats", or Gatera), one of those curiosities only spotted by those who walk with their eyes open. It is not a solemn monument and won't appear on the big tours: it's a tender, absurd wink that becomes an instant bond between everyone who stumbles upon it.
A house for the neighbourhood cats
The piece was created in 2003 by Valencian craftsman and sculptor Alfonso Yuste Navarro, whose workshop stood right here. He noticed a group of stray cats slipping into his lot through a hole in the wall and, with the neighbours' blessing, decided to give them a proper doorway: around that gap he built a miniature façade imitating a traditional Valencian home, complete with tiles and every detail handmade. Twenty years on he still looks after it; when it was first vandalised in 2023, he restored it himself.
The legend of the "four cats"
What makes it special is the plaque beside it. It recalls a legend that when El Cid conquered the city in 1094 he ordered all cats killed, believing them an ill omen. The inscription is dedicated to the memory of the four cats that remained in the Barrio del Carmen in the year 1094, adding that "no meow was ever heard louder than another". From this, the monument playfully claims, comes the Spanish expression "cuatro gatos" (literally "four cats"), meaning hardly anyone is around. Pure folk mythology, but delightful.
How to see it and a tip
It's on Calle del Museu, a few steps from the Centre del Carme and the centre of the district. It's free and visible at any hour, though daylight shows off the details best. Insider tip: crouch down to its level and peer inside the little house; many swear they spot a real cat poking out, because the burrow is still in use. Take the chance to wander the Carme without a map: you'll find the Gatera and a thousand other details among its streets. To plan your day, our guide to free things to do in València helps, and for more hidden corners browse the secrets section.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Casa de los Gatos free and can you visit it?
Yes, it's right on the street and seeing it is free; it's a tiny little house built into a wall that you can see from outside as you pass.
Where is the Casa de los Gatos?
It's on Calle del Museu, in Valencia's Barrio del Carmen.
What exactly is the Casa de los Gatos?
It's a miniature house barely half a metre tall, with a roof, balcony and little windows, created in 2003 by sculptor Alfonso Yuste Navarro for the neighbourhood's cats.
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