LGBTQ+ Life in Italy

VENICE

Called the ‘Serenissima’ for its splendor during the 18th century, Venice is the Italian city with the longest history of inclusion and tolerance. Venice has always been a beacon for merchants and travelers, and is a diverse and vibrant city unlike any other. LGBTQ+ tourists will nd a warm welcome throughout the city of canals, and can enjoy unique experiences, such as the six-month long La Biennale Di Venezia, featuring art, architecture, cinema, dance, music and theater. If you need a break from the crowds, one can also escape to the Lido for a classic Veneto beach experience, or take a short train ride to enjoy an evening in Padova with its lively gay nightlife.

MILAN

This economic powerhouse is famous for fashion and business, but it is also the most gay-friendly city in Italy. The large LGBTQ+ population comes out in force every year for Italy’s biggest Pride event, and the city is a center of Italy’s gay-rights movement. The Porta Venezia area has the biggest concentration of gay bars and clubs, but one will nd a friendly welcome in most all neighborhoods in the city. Milan will host the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s International Convention in October, 2022

PALERMO

Sicily’s capital is a welcoming city for LGBTQ+ travelers, and the city’s Pride Celebration is the most well-attended in Sicily. It hosts the Sicilia Queer Film Fest in June, and the city has a very active chapter of ARCIGAY, the Italian LGBTQ+ rights organization. There are many gay bars in town which organize parties and themed events designed to welcome and entertain the LGBTQ+ community.

TAORMINA

Considered the ‘Pearl of Sicily’, Taormina was a frequent stop on the Grand Tour, and a favorite destination for the scions of noble families from northern Europe. Among these, Willhelm Van Gloeden stood out as an in uential photographer and arts patron. He moved to Taormina permanently and helped turn it into a major destination for gay bohemians from all over Europe. The town’s iconic Roman amphitheater is a must-see, with its aweinspiring backdrop of Mt. Etna, and Taormina’s main avenue is perfect for a leisurely afternoon passeggiata.

ROME

Rome, the eternal city, has thriving LGBTQ+ community with most queer bars and nightclubs to be found on the Colosseum end of Via di San Giovanni. The city is tolerant of same-sex couples despite being the home of the catholic church, and it offers nearly endless sightseeing, cultural and gastronomic delights. In summer evenings, the LGBTQ+ crowd decamps to nearby Eur for its annual Gay Village celebrations, which include concerts and events from June to September. For an LGBTQ-friendly beach experience, try nearby Settimo Cielo or Capocotta, both located on the Ostia seafront.

FLORENCE

The capital of the Renaissance, Florence experienced alternating phases of prejudice and tolerance towards homosexuality over the ages, but today is a very welcoming city for all LGBTQ+ travelers. The home of some of history’s most famous gay luminaries, such as Michelangelo, Botticelli Leonardo de Vinci and Machiavelli, Florence is still a destination and home for many queer Italians and expats. The LGBTQ+ nightlife is growing, with quite a few lively venues in the city center.

BOLOGNA

LGBTQ+ activism began in Bologna in the late 1970’s, and the city elected the rst transexual in the world to hold public of ce in 1995 with the election of Marcella Di Folco as Municipal Councilor. Bologna’s ‘CASSERO lgbti+ center’ was the rst community center in Italy to promote the recognition of the rights and dignity for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and has been engaged in numerous local political campaigns so that homosexuality is recognized as a social reality. Bologna has long been considered one of the most gay-friendly cities in Italy, and the Pride Celebration here is second only to those in Milan in terms of size and exuberance. There are many good options for lesbian and gay bars in this University town, also well-known as one of the best places to eat in all of Italy.

PARMA

In the early 1990’s the rst gay bars opened in Parma where people could meet freely. By the end of the decade, the Association ‘Arco’ made its voice heard for the protection of human rights in the community and to promote LGBTQ+ tolerance and acceptance. Today, LGBTQ+ travelers will nd an open and tolerant scene in Parma, which happens to be home to some of Italy’s most famous delicacies, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello di Zibello, Salame Felino and Coppa di Parma. The city is home to some truly outstanding restaurants and excellent bars, and is well worth a couple of days on a journey in northern Italy.

Parma is designated as a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy.

NAPLES

Certainly the most gay-friendly city in Central-Southern Italy, frenetic Naples is also the gateway to Capri, Ischia and the Almal Coast, all of which should be on very queer traveler’s bucket list. The city is the birthplace of Italian pizza, and offers many excellent dining options. For a unique and unforgettable experience, take the fascinating Naples Underground walking tour of the subterranean GrecoRoman aqueducts which used to run underground from the city center to as far away as Pompeii.

GENOA

Genoa has been a crossroads of civilizations for centuries as one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean, but has not always been seen as a beacon of tolerance or diversity. That has certainly changed in the past 20 years, with the city becoming more inclusive and open to the LGBTQ+ community. Genoa hosted is rst Pride Celebration in 2009, and it has since become a landmark event on the Genovese calendar. The city has a lively nightlife with many gay-friendly clubs and bars in the historic center, not to mention the numerous parties and events on the nearby beaches during the summer season.

TURIN

Turin is home to the rst Italian homosexual liberation movement (F.U.O.R.I.), which started in 1971. From that beginning, the network of ‘Arcigay’ gay-rights associations developed, grew and are now present throughout Italy. Turin offers the LGBTQ+ traveler a warm welcome and extremely rich history to discover. The historic city center is home to numerous open-minded bars and clubs, where LGBTQ+ couples can feel at home and enjoy Piedmont’s outstanding wine and local cuisine.