Like a Virgin: gay life in Venice from the Middle Ages to present days
Like a Virgin: gay life in Venice from the Middle Ages to present days
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.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Campo San Giacomo da l'Orio
We will pass by where used to live an italian poet, who came out in the early 70s and committed suicide some years ago. His works were some of the first Italian poetry to explore homosexuality
10 minutesFondamenta del Megio
We will pay respect to was a Venetian historian living between 15th and 16th century. His most significant work is his "Diarii" (chronicles), intended to be an comprehensive a history of Venice, before another literate was officially appointed to do so. He was said he was kind, extremely kind but we will learn why it was not really a compliment.
15 minutesChiesa Santa Maria Mater Domini
We will visit a church whose arcades were placed under surveillance by public authorities to prevent sodomites from using it to cruise and meet in 1488.
15 minutesPonte delle Tette
We will walk in what was the red light district par excellence of Venice in 15th century. Back in those days under these shadowy porticos around this bridge neighbourhood prostitutes were encouraged by authorities to display their wares in order to prevent sodomy in town. In the same streets walked the "gnaghe", queers or men dressed as women covering their faces with cat masks and emitting the plaintive calls of cats in heat, making explicit proposals to passers-by.
15 minutesChiesa di San Cassiano
We will hear the story of Rolandina Roncaglia, the first trans person we know of in Italy. She was born as Rolandino, for seven years she lived as a woman in a house nearby. Beside selling eggs and the local market, she became a prostitute. Once discovered in 1355, she had a terrible death.
15 minutesCampo San Cassiano
In this area there used to be a theatre that boasted the title of the first public opera house in the world. It was also in place of homosexual encounters as Giacomo Casanova even points out when he worked as a spy for the state inquisitors in the 18th century
15 minutesCalle dell Ogio
On this short bank along Canal Grande a famous writer and pioneer of the British gay movement met, and not by chance, a beautiful 19 year old porter.
15 minutesCampo San Giacomo di Rialto
In this campo a famous statue was used as a podium for proclamations and announcements, including bans relating to sodomy: an officer read the names of thoese sentenced to death standing on the block at the end of its staircase. The location in the immediate vicinity of the Rialto market, one of the most frequented by the population at the time, made it ideal for this kind of communication.
15 minutesRuga dei Oresi
Here a "suspicious" pharmacy was located, used by sodomites for their meetings. Just getting close could be grounds for condemnation to death!
15 minutesPalazzo Ca' Zenobio
Palazzo Zenobio is considered to be one of the most significant examples of Venetian late Baroque design, both architecturally and in interior decor. Throughout the XVIII century the Palace became a venue for intense intellectual life. Since 1993, after a complete restoration, it now serves as a research centre for Armenian studies. Most importantly, it was the main indoor location of Madonna's "like a virgin" video hot in the 80's.
15 minutesChiesa di San Sebastiano
One of Venice’s leading art venues thanks to its magnificent cycle of paintings by Paolo Veronese, who is buried here. We will understand why San Sebastiano is considered the patron saint of the LGBT community worldwide.
15 minutesCampanile di San Marco
Outside the tallest bell tower in Venice, an iron cage called "cheba" dates back to the 15th century and in the 16th century. It was also used as to expose somodimite priests to them to the bad weather and taunts of the crowd below.
15 minutesPiazzetta San Marco
Between these two columns the executions took place up to the middle of the 17th century, as Casanova also confirmed
15 minutesHarry's Bar
Despite the founder said it was just a rumours, we will check out a famous bar where gay travellers gathered up to the 70's
15 minutesRiva degli Schiavoni
we will visit a palace where a love story was staged between a venetian rower and a famous german writer.
15 minutesCalle del Dose da Ponte
In this hotel a famous lesbian US painter used to live, collecting love affairs with men and women.
15 minutesPalazzo Dario
This palace is famous for an unrelated series of unfortunate events that happened to some of its owners, many of them gay.
15 minutesPalazzo Mocenigo
In this palace used to live a famous british poet, aknoledged not only for his poetry but also for a more or less important bisexual component in his very complex sentimental and sexual life.
15 minutesChiesa Parrocchiale di San Martino di Castello
In ancient times the church had a no longer exisiting porch that a law of 1450 listed among the places of the night sodomites crusing.
15 minutesIncluded
- Tour Leader & Nature and Interpretive Guide
Not Included
- Gratuities
Good to Know
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.