In Italy's oldest pet cemetery, Mussolini's hen rests among dead

The pet cemetery Casa Rosa is the only pet cemetery with a municipal license. This small plot of land has for almost 100 years been the resting grounds for the remains of pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons, ducks, sparrows, parrots, horses, hamsters and even a lioness. Photos: Tiziana FABI / AFP

Rome is famous the world over as the final resting place of emperors, popes, martyrs and kings from Augustus to Saint Peter, but few know about Mussolini's pet chicken.

The hen is buried in Italy's oldest pet cemetery, which this year marks 100 years of laying to rest much-missed cats, dogs and other four-legged companions in an atypical graveyard in the southwest of the capital.