Experience

Gay Life in Venice from the Middle Ages to Present Days

4.93(14)Venice· Canals · quiet morningsGerman, English, Italian2 options

Hear about the stories about the cross-dressing in cat masks, exploring the places of cruising from middle ages through the later centuries up to the tolerant attitude of nowadays Venice. Take a trip over the centuries through the gay history of Venice, which is as labyrinthine as the city’s convoluted system of canals. Travel back to Middle Ages, when the practice of sodomy was deemed a sin. Learn about the history of Rolandina, a transgender who was burned at stake, as several other men of all social statuses have being condemned for their same-sex relations in the following centuries. Visit the city as a European tourists did during their discovery trip "Grand Tour" in the 17th century and how Thomas Mann and Frederick Rolfe made Venice a place of homosexual imagery during Belle Epoque. Learn about the fascist attempt to “clean up” the city, while following the location of a music video by a gay-icon as Madonna and checking out how is gay life nowadays in the floating city.

Languages
German, English, Italian

What's included

Tour Leader & Nature and Interpretive Guide

Meeting point & pickup

Meet at the designated start point

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Choose a tour option · 2

2 versions of this tour. Pick a date to see prices, start times and what's still open.

Private tour
Private tour Customized route Hotel pick up on request
Shared tour in a small group
Shared tour in a small group

Where you'll be

from€154/person
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Where this sits in Venice

Venice is about 11 min by road from Venice Marco Polo Airport. Extraordinary and genuinely crowded, and the two are easy to reconcile: stay the night. The day trippers leave around six, and the city that is left — quiet canals, lit windows, footsteps — is the one worth coming for.

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