Gay florence
LGBTQ Florence
Florence is a city that has always been ahead of its time: here, in 1789, Peter Leopold Grand Duke of Tuscany abolished for the first time the death penalty. and later, in 1853,Leopold II abolished the punishments for homosexuality.
Even earlier, the Medici dynasty, which held the reins of the city from the 15th to the 18th century, promoted art, culture and tolerance: among the numerous representatives of the family, some were certainly homosexual: Pope Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici, 1475-1521), Ferdinando II (1610-1670), and Giovanni Gastone de' Medici (1671-1737). During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, in Florence, there was a series of places where homosexual meetings could be held.
Today, the LGBT traveller can find a valid support in the AITGL (the Italian association of tourism companies) whose purpose is to promote LGBTTourism in Italy and in the Azione Lgbtq+ e Lesbica, a Florentine association organising various events and meetings in the city.
Florence is a town open to LGBT tourism; there are lots of gay friendly clubs, cafés and discos: the
Florence Gay Travel Instruction 2025
Upcoming Events in Florence
Accommodation Tip
TSH Florence Lavagnini
Hotel. ****, from 80 €
Reviews, Photos & Reservation
Modern, trendy hotel with air-conditioned rooms and collaboration area.
Roof terrace with bar, pool, gym room and fantastic views of Florence.
@ Viale Spartaco Lavagnini 70-72
Florence 50129
About Florence
Florence, a centre of medieval trade and finance and long commanded by the Medici family, was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, represented by names such as Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
Florence is world-famous especially for its art and architecture and has been one of the most visited cities in Italy and Europe for centuries.
The downside of this popularity is that thousands of tourists press through the slim streets day by day.
Our tip: In the evening – when most of the tourist groups and busses have left the city center – the streets and piazzas of Florence are much more enjoyable. Piazza di Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria and cutie David are still admirable after sunset.
Ponte Vecchio has more atmosphere at nigh
4 Best Gay Bars in Florence
Florence may be most famous as the Cradle of Renaissance, but it also boasts a fabulous queer legacy.
Long before the rainbow flag, Florence boasted a gay scene as colourful as Botticelli’s Primavera. Many Florentines, including primary artists like Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo, engaged in copious, though clandestine, homosexual affairs. Yet collectively they promoted a queer customs that celebrated male beauty and intimate connections in ways that resonate with LGBTQ+ interpretations today.
Not to mention gifting us some of the greatest art and sculpture in Western society through their rendering of the male form.
Florence is still a fantastic city for LGBTQ+ travellers. Whether you’re looking for a cosy spot to sip Chianti while watching the sunset or you’re more in the mood for dancing and a shadowy room, Florence has something for everyone. Here are some of the best gay bars in Florence.
Piccolo Café
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 5:30 pm–2 am; Friday – Saturday 5:30 pm-2 am
Address: Borgo Santa Croce 23
Instagram: Quelo
Just around the corner from Basilica Santa Croce, Piccolo
When in Florence, Do as the Gays Do – How to Party in Florence
Renaissance art-filled galleries and museums, towering church domes, six-packed sculptures, the best ice cream in the world and nearby verdant vineyards producing wine…lots of wine – these are what most associate with Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. The culturally rich city is also home to such wonders as the tombs of Michelangelo and Ponte Vecchio, a scenic multi-layered bridge filled with shops.
However, despite the undeniably same-sex attracted undertones of the city – with its sexy nude male statues dotted around – what Florence is not known for, is its gay nightlife. Rome and Milan seem to contain beat in that respect, but beneath the culturally wealthy veneer of the city a bustling gay scene exists for those willing to seek it out when nighttime falls and the galleries close. Florence is a gay-friendly city with fashion designers and students making up a significant portion of Florence’s population – if not to the extent of Milan – and let’s be genuine, fashion and the LGBTQ+ world move as hand-in-hand as Dolce & Gabbana.
We look at the best gay bars and clubs in the city to whet y