Bologna — Enjoyment and Scene

Gay Bologna is a laid-back destination for gay travelers who want to experience Italy beyond the big tourist magnets. Located in Emilia-Romagna, the city has been considered left-wing and student for years. This rubs off on the climate: queer life here takes place less in a demarcated district than in the middle of everyday life in the old town. A central address is Cassero, the LGBTQIA+ center based in the Arcigay, which serves as a cultural venue and library during the day and becomes one of the city's best-known queer clubs in the evening. Historically, the scene was closely associated with Porta Saragozza, the old city gate in the southwest.

For going out and strolling, the Via del Pratello with its bars and restaurants as well as the university district around Piazza Verdi are particularly worthwhile. In between lies what Bologna is famous for anyway: kilometre-long arcades, which have been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2021, the leaning tower of the Due Torri and a cuisine that has earned the city the nickname La Grassa. During the day you sit in the café under the portici. As soon as it gets dark, life moves through the alleys. It is good to travel from spring to early autumn, when it is neither too humid nor too cold. If you want to experience the scene, it's best to plan a weekend with a program at the Cassero.