LGBTQ + friendly Renaissance Gay life in Florence tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Florence, Italy

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Step into the secret past of Florence’s LGBTQ+ community on this eye-opening and informative walking tour. Learn about centuries of hidden history, the secret lives of prominent Renaissance figures, and visit the medieval meeting spots and safe havens for gay men. Hear how Florence’s reputation for tolerance clashed with harsh penalties and see how the city shaped queer identity through the ages.

Explore under-the-radar areas of the city with a local guide
Hear stories of queer figures from Florentine history
Gain insight into medieval attitudes toward sexuality
Enjoy a small-group experience with space to ask questions

What's Included

Headsets

any other items not mentioned in the above "included" box

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Hard Rock Cafe
Via dei Brunelleschi, 1, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Republic square, in front of the Hard Rock Cafè.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Piazza della Repubblica

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Palazzo Strozzi

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Piazza Santa Trinita

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Palazzo Pitti (Pass By)

Ponte Vecchio

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chiasso del Buco

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Piazza della Signoria

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Church and Museum of Orsanmichele

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great

Pavlo_S, Oct 2025

Very vivid and full of hidden peculiar details of Florence life in the Renaissance times visiting some major sites

Very entertaining and full of knowledge

Jorge_T, Nov 2024

We had a great time during this guided tour with Mila, we were able to know a little more about the history of Florence, very punctual, she was so kind and full of knowledge, also very empathic with the subject. The two hours happened really fast. Thanks a lot Mila

Great history of LGBT

Michael_B, Sep 2024

What a great start to Florence, Mila was very knowledgeable and it was great hearing about the LGBT culture in Florence. Highly recommend any tour from Mila

Mila give an outstanding tour.

Gary_U, Aug 2024

Mila was knowledgeable and informative. It was a very interesting tour highlighting gay life in the during the Renaissance. Not for the faint of heart but a nice and different way to spend a few hours in Florence. Mila was lovely and warm and friendly and my partner and I had her all to ourselves.

Amazing!

Mary_M, Aug 2024

The tour was fantastic and the tour guide very knowledgeable!! Mila was super thoughtful and cared about the participants in our small little group.

Informative

Ivan_I, Jul 2024

Our guide, Mila, gave a wonderful tour. She has a great deal of knowledge and shares eagerly. She happily answered questions and the time flew by. Certainly a great tour to join.

interesting tour on LGBT history of Florence

John_A, Apr 2024

While we were only 2 people, I appreciated Mila providing us with a great overview of LGBT history in Florence. It was really interesting and added a different flavour and perspective to our time in Florence. I fully recommend.

Great entertaining tour

Justinehitchnz, Mar 2024

The guide was very entertaining (and kind) and had a lot of fascinating information that you couldn't find elsewhere.

Lot's of Education gGven in a Fun Way.

Roy_C, Dec 2023

Mila lead just the two of us around the core of Florence and gave us a personalized tour full of inside information. We learned a great deal and enjoyed ourselves.

Educational and Entertaining!

Ernie_R, Oct 2023

Mila did wonderful job of describing the history of LGBT+ culture within Florence and how politics and local governments played a role in gatekeeping acts of same sex love throughout the surrounding area. We took a 2 hour evening tour that took us across the Arno to the Pitti Place, back over the Ponte Vecchio, and returning to the Piazza República where we started. Mila is very entertaining and kept our attention by inserting humor and anecdotes on historical figure. I highly recommend this tour to those who want an alternate perspective on Florence.

Something different!

Adele_P, Jan 2023

There are so many options for tours in Florence but this one is special. Mila is a fantastic guide and covers LGBTQ+ and gay renaissance life in a truthful but respectful way. She provides a wealth of information on the families in power, key sites within the city, and of course the corresponding gay history. Her approach ties together many topics and is a beautiful way to see the city while learning more about an important topic that is often overlooked. If you are in Florence, make time for this tour!