• Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio - This location is notable for being the former residence of an Italian poet who emerged in the early 1970s and tragically took his own life a few years later. His poetry was among the first in Italy to delve into themes of homosexuality.

• Fondamenta del Megio - Here, we honor a Venetian historian from the 15th and 16th centuries. His most notable work, “Diarii” (chronicles), aimed to provide a comprehensive history of Venice before an official historian was appointed. He was known for his kindness, though this was not always meant as a compliment.

• Chiesa Santa Maria Mater Domini - This church’s arcades were monitored by authorities in 1488 to prevent them from being used as a meeting place for sodomites.

• Ponte delle Tette - This area was the premier red-light district of Venice in the 15th century. Authorities encouraged prostitutes to display themselves under the porticos around this bridge to deter sodomy. The “gnaghe,” men dressed as women with cat masks, would also frequent these streets, making explicit proposals to passersby.

• Chiesa di San Cassiano - Here, we learn about Rolandina Roncaglia, Italy’s first known trans person. Born Rolandino, she lived as a woman for seven years nearby, selling eggs and working as a prostitute. Discovered in 1355, she met a tragic end.

• Campo San Cassiano - This area once housed a theater, the world’s first public opera house, and was a site for homosexual encounters, as noted by Giacomo Casanova during his time as a state inquisitor in the 18th century.

• Calle dell Ogio - Along this short stretch by the Grand Canal, a renowned writer and pioneer of the British gay movement met a beautiful 19-year-old porter.

• Campo San Giacomo di Rialto - A famous statue here served as a podium for proclamations, including those related to sodomy. An officer would announce the names of those sentenced to death, standing on the block at the staircase’s end. Its proximity to the bustling Rialto market made it ideal for such announcements.

• Ruga dei Oresi - This location housed a “suspicious” pharmacy used by sodomites for meetings. Merely approaching it could lead to a death sentence!

• Palazzo Ca’ Zenobio - This palace is a prime example of Venetian late Baroque architecture and interior design. In the 18th century, it was a hub of intellectual activity. Since 1993, after restoration, it has served as a research center for Armenian studies. Notably, it was the main indoor location for Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” video in the 1980s.

• Chiesa di San Sebastiano - This church is a leading art venue, featuring a magnificent cycle of paintings by Paolo Veronese, who is buried here. We will explore why San Sebastiano is considered the patron saint of the global LGBT community.

• Campanile di San Marco - Outside Venice’s tallest bell tower, an iron cage known as “cheba” dates back to the 15th century. In the 16th century, it was used to expose sodomite priests to harsh weather and the crowd’s taunts below.

• Piazzetta San Marco - Executions took place between these two columns until the mid-17th century, as confirmed by Casanova.

• Harry’s Bar - Despite the founder’s claims of it being a rumor, we will visit this famous bar where gay travelers gathered until the 1970s.

• Riva degli Schiavoni - We will explore a palace where a love story unfolded between a Venetian rower and a renowned German writer.

• Calle del Dose da Ponte - A famous lesbian American painter once resided in this hotel, known for her romantic liaisons with both men and women.

• Palazzo Dario - This palace is infamous for a series of unrelated unfortunate events that befell many of its owners, several of whom were gay.

• Palazzo Mocenigo - A famous British poet lived here, celebrated not only for his poetry but also for the bisexual aspects of his complex romantic and sexual life.

• Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Martino di Castello - In ancient times, this church had a porch, now gone, which a 1450 law listed among places frequented by night-time sodomites.

• Expert Tour Leader
• Experienced Nature and Interpretive Guide

• Gratuities

Immerse yourself in the tales of individuals donning cat masks and adopting attire of the opposite sex, tracing back to cruising spots from medieval times to present-day tolerant Venice. Journey through the winding pathways of gay history in Venice, mirroring the city’s intricate network of canals. Delve into the Middle Ages period when the act of sodomy was perceived as sinful. Get acquainted with Rolandina’s legacy, a transgender individual who faced execution at the stake like countless men from various societal circles for engaging in homosexual relationships. Take a tour of the city as European vacationers did during their 17th-century ‘Grand Tour’ excursions and understand how pioneers like Thomas Mann and Frederick Rolfe portrayed Venice as a haven for homosexual men during the Belle Époque. Discover the fascist attempts to sanitize the city, trace the filming locations of a music video featuring gay icon Madonna, and explore the contemporary gay scene in this city on the water.

• 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

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