From Michelangelo to Leonardo da Vinci to Gianni Versace. The greatest Italian artists loved men. What works in art is sometimes more complicated in everyday life. Find out here where and how you can travel gay-friendly through Italy today.
LGBTQ in Italy: The Status Quo
Especially in the northern part of the country, a lively LGBTQ scene has developed in recent years. Holding hands, a hug, a quick kiss are largely tolerated in public, as long as the exchange of affection does not become too offensive.
Homosexuality has not been punishable in Italy since 1887. Same-sex partnerships have been allowed since 2016, but adoptions are not. In recent years, Italy has become more and more liberal towards those who are different. At the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, the country presented itself as a fantastic, tolerant host to the world.
Critics fear that this development could be brought to a standstill by the right-wing government under Giorgia Meloni. The unmarried woman preaches heterosexual marriage as the only acceptable form of family in Italy. At the same time, more and more regions and tourism companies are focussing on LGBTQ-friendly travel offers in Italy.
*Bunga-Bunga-Berlusconi
Italy's Rainbow Cities: MILANO & BOLOGNA
The fashion capital of Italy is considered very gay friendly. Milan is the headquarters of ARCIGAY, the largest LGBTQ organisation in Italy. Milan's "PRIDE Week" actually lasts almost three weeks (usually from mid-June). Every year in October, the LGBTQ-friendly "Milano Open" takes place on the tennis court.
This is what the Milan PRIDE 2022 was like
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More InformationHowever, the centre of Italy's gay community is Bologna. The capital of Emilia-Romagna is known for its openness. Numerous gay-friendly restaurants, bars and discos can be found here. In summer, the colourful Pride parade proudly parades through the city.
Events & Parties
Other cities also have a vibrant LGBTQ scene with many restaurants, bars and hotels. For example, in Rome there are das alliance "Gay Village", das many events and parties organises. The festival in summer is a particularly enduring celebration here.
Film fans come together every year in April at the "Lovers Film Festival" in Turin get their money's worth. International films dealing with LGBTQ issues are shown here.
Photo: Ufficio Stampa Museo Nazionale del Cinem
Italy: LGTBQ-friendly in summer
It's not just Jennifer Lopez and the jet set who spenden like to spend their summer on the island of Capri in Campania. The community has also found one of its summer domiciles here. However, the community's absolute favourite and hotspot is Torre del Lago near Viareggio in Tuscany.
The absolute hotspot in Tuscany
Italy is absolutely uniquely tolerant in Torre del Lago: nowhere else in the country is love and life as diverse and open as on the Versilia coast in Tuscany. It all supposedly started with the introduction of the Puccini Opera Festival in the 60s. Thousands of opera fans, including many homosexuals, travelled here - and fell in love with the seaside resort. 50 years later, Torre del Lago is Rainbow Land, also because of the many activists who have settled here.
The highlight of the year is the "Gay Mardi Gras" festival in summer: open-air parties, grandiose shows, live music and parades everywhere. In contrast Gallipoli in Apuliawhere the Gay Summer Pride also takes place in summer is almost an insider tip.
Not only in summer, but especially then, the gay community travels to Taormina in Sicily. With snow-capped Etna as a backdrop, Taormina, with its small streets and the ruins of the Teatro Greco, already attracted homosexual intellectuals and artists in search of freedom and tranquillity in the 19th century, from Oscar Wilde to Truman Capone.
Not far away from it lies Catania in Sicily, probably the most gay-friendly city in the south. The proximity to Taormina, the baroque soul of the city, the liveliness, the melting pot of different cultures - alongside an exciting nightlife: That's why Catania is an extremely popular gay travel destination.
Helpful links to the LGBTQ community in Italy
Here you can find links to LGBTQ organisations in Italy, the dates of the Pride demonstrations 2023 and more:
A listing of all PRIDE dates in Italy, from north to south, and other major events:
ACRIGAY is the largest LGBTQ organisation in Italy. With the ARCIGAY card, valid throughout Italy, you can take part in various events and initiatives Cost: 20 euros/year:
AITGL is the Italian association for gay and lesbian tourism. Objective. To promote indiscriminate welcome in Italy with special attention to LGBTQ+ tourism.
Many LGBTQ parties throughout the year, the highlight of the celebration comes in summer at Pride in Roma. An experience:
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Cover image - collage: Waldo93/pixabay via canva.com; nito 100/Getty Images Pro via canva.com
