Thursday, August 6, 2009

Gay Travel Tips for Italy

By Howie Holben

Italy is a country well-known for its history, art, architecture and romance. With its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant history and rich culture, Italy is a popular destination for gay travel, as well as being home to many settings for movies, plays and books. Friends, partners and families travel to Italy at all times of the year for the food and the fashion, and to see many of the most famous examples of architecture and art in the world. Whether your idea of a perfect gay vacation is strolling through the narrow streets of Venice, cruising through the countryside with the top down in search of historical sites and quaint wineries, spending a day at a Florence museum or partaking in Milans exuberant nightlife, you are sure to find Italy an ideal location for gay vacations.

Those on a gay travel adventure to Italy will find that the greatest selection of gay clubs and bars is in Rome and Milan; however, many towns and cities throughout Italy have gay-owned and gay-friendly bars, clubs and other establishments that will be happy to welcome you during your gay vacation, particularly in Bologna, Venice, Geneva, Florence and Padua. Hotels that are gay-owned or gay-friendly are also available throughout Italy, such as Tuscanys La Quircia Rosa or Villa le Masse, which are both gay-owned, or the Hotel Porta Rossa, a gay-friendly hotel that is also the second oldest hotel in the country and an easy walk to several popular attractions, such as the Galleria dellAccademia, which is home to Michelangelos David.

Italys larger cities have established gay and lesbian communities, providing many options for your Italian gay vacation. Milan is often thought of as the most accepting city in Italy, with Florence, Rome and Bologna also topping this list with larger gay and lesbian populations, which make each of these popular choices for gay vacations. There are gay pride celebrations in many cities and three lesbian and gay film festivals, including Milans Festival del Cinema Gay Lesbico e della Cultura Queer, the Turin International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the Florence Queer Festival.

Enlisting the assistance of a travel agency that regularly arranges gay holidays to Italy or offers organized gay vacations to Italy is a good way to ensure that you will be working with someone who understands your particular needs and can guide you towards a safe, fulfilling gay vacation.

You may also want to consider taking part in an organized vacation or professional tours during your time in Italy, which will allow you to benefit from a well-organized itinerary and an educated tour guide. This will ensure that you will have the best vacation possible and will have many memories to bring home with you.

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