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Like a Virgin: gay life in Venice from the Middle Ages to present days

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Tickets from € 69.00

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November 2024
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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.
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  • Tour Leader & Nature and Interpretive Guide
  • Gratuities
Departure Point

Campo S. Giacomo da l'Orio, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy At the well

  • Campo S. Giacomo da l'Orio, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Fondamenta del Megio, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Chiesa Santa Maria Mater Domini, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Ponte delle Tette, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Chiesa di San Cassiano, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Campo San Cassiano, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Calle dell Ogio, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Ruga dei Oresi, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
    Here a "suspicious" pharmacy was located, used by sodomites for their meetings. Just getting close could be grounds for condemnation to death!
    15 minutes
  • Sestiere Dorsoduro, 2596, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Chiesa di San Sebastiano, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Campanile di San Marco, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Piazzetta S. Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    Between these two columns the executions took place up to the middle of the 17th century, as Casanova also confirmed
    15 minutes
  • Harry's Bar, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice, Italy
    we will visit a palace where a love story was staged between a venetian rower and a famous german writer.
    15 minutes
  • C. del Dose da Ponte, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    In this hotel a famous lesbian US painter used to live, collecting love affairs with men and women.
    15 minutes
  • Campiello Barbaro, 352, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
    This palace is famous for an unrelated series of unfortunate events that happened to some of its owners, many of them gay.
    15 minutes
  • Palazzo Mocenigo, Venice, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Fondamenta del Piovan o Erizzo, 2294, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
    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 minutes
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • 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.
A5545URangelv
24 May 2024
The views were good the food was great I'm also checking and ask them about their IHD1 reward you become a platinum gold and diamond member you receive points for that and they give you free nights and they give you free upgrades to another room it's really good next time we come you can ask about that the pool will be open soon Jim's always open and I can take a nice walk to the restaurant around that's a good area restaurant around here with a very half an hour to the beach river which is another good thing
marcgH20OY
10 Apr 2024
Valerio guided us through Venice in the evening and its unusual links to LGBT history. He is a knowledgeable and professional guide who takes pride in his city of Venice. Separately, we went on his glass tour of Murano also. If you are a traveler who wants more from your visit than walking in the group behind the flag, then Valerio is for you!
V4171CVbeas
06 Apr 2024
We received interesting details about gay (LGBT) life in Venice, although there could have been a bit more of those ‘kinky’ stories. Valerio was extremly flexible when we organized the tour, and also with the meeting point. He speaks very good English! We highly recommend him and his tours!
This tour in Venice is organized by [deTour]ist - Tour Leader & Nature and I

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