It's not everyday that goats, cows and donkeys fill the plaza outside of St. Peter's Square. But it is a tradition one day each year on the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of animals.
Romans, tourists and cattle breeders alike gathered to visit this pop-up zoo hosted by the Italian Breeders Association.
CHRISTIAN
I like it because every day, I work in contact with animals. I have a livestock farm, I raise beef cattle, so I enjoy coming here.
JULIAN & CARRLOTA
It was beautiful to see the animals in the middle of the city, it is not so common, actually, to see the cows and the different animals here in the middle of Rome and in St. Peter's Square, so yes very exciting, we spent a beautiful morning here.
For the event organizers, which includes farmers and breeders, this pop-up zoo is an opportunity to showcase their animals in a rare and special setting.
ALESSANDRO
This is a nationwide festival and for 17 years, this beautiful event has been organized here and all the citizens of Rome and all the tourists and passersby can see the various breeds, as well as the relationships breeders have with their animals.
St. Anthony the Abbot was an Egyptian hermit who spent time fasting in the desert, where he is said to have only been accompanied by animals.
AT
