The other side of Rome

Details

The glorious past of Rome had great personalities. A number of them hide secrets concerning their homosexuality, which have never been revealed, although in ancient times sodomy was a very common practice and somehow accepted. From the Vatican Museum to the Colosseum, from the Unesco Villas in Tivoli to the splendid Orvieto in Umbria, a complete gay-friendly tour, into the Roman Empire.

The glorious past of Rome had great personalities. A number of them hide secrets concerning their homosexuality, which have never been revealed, although in ancient times sodomy was a very common practice and somehow accepted. From the Vatican Museum to the Colosseum, from the Unesco Villas in Tivoli to the splendid Orvieto in Umbria, a complete gay-friendly tour, into the Roman Empire.

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Itinerary

Arrival and transfer from airport to the hotel.

Free afternoon.

Aperitif at Coming out, few steps from Colosseum in the Roman gay street, to savor Roman delicacies.

Rome, the eternal City, the magic of history and the present, symbols and characters will have no more secrets. The guide will tell you about the great emperor and leader Julius Caesar, described by Svetonius as the “wife of all husbands and the husband of all wives”. Many of his enemies used to make fun of him calling him the “Queen of Bithynia” for his relationship with the king of Bithynia, king Nicomede VI. There will be many untold stories the guide will share with you, as the one regarding the eccentric Nero who first married Sporo, and then the young Doriforo as well.

Tivoli is a city located upon Tiburtini hills founded in 1215 BC and defined by Virgilio the poet “Tibur Superbum”.

This place is well known for the sulphurous thermal sources used since ancient times. Tivoli is also famous because it hosts three Roman Villas, two of them Unesco world heritage sites, Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este.

Villa Adriana is the one that mostly celebrates the love Hadrianus felt for Antinous who was celebrated with several monuments after he drawn in the Nile river.

Back to Rome you are going to visit a XVIII century palace in Renaissance style, one of the most important in Rome, palazzo Massimo, that hosts one of the most important classical art collections in the world. Among the artefacts there are some original Greek statues, as The boxer and the Niobide.

You will also visit Via Portuense, an old Roman street built at the end of the I century AD to link the city to the port on river Tevere.

In the local resort&spa, you will relish a unique and magic experience: itineraries with baths in fascinating underground paths, 10.000 sqm of wellness, a unique way to satisfy all of our senses in an itinerary curated in every single detail.

Return in hotel and evening at disposal

 

*Private transfer from the hotel to Tivoli and back. Lunch at the restaurant La Sibilla, with the view on the Temple of Vesta (typical products) or at the Osteria La Briciola, 10 minutes far from the center of Tivoli, known for its DOP and DOC products.

Visit to Bomarzo and the Park of Monsters.

Park of Monster is a natural theater, in the town of Bomarzo. Its statues, masks and architectures will take you to a wonderful world. The Park was created on commission of Pier Francesco Orsini and by the architect Pirro Ligorio.

At the age of 35 he retired with his wife Giulia Farnese in Bomarzo and after her death he spent his life studying the classics for his park. Sculptures are made by peperino stones from the valley. The most famous sculpture is the orch one but also the hanging house and the funeral tomb of Giulia. In the wood there is a unique sensation of peace and wellness.

Lunch break in Bomarzo.

The tour proceeds to the an- cient town of Orvieto, where the first settlements date around IX century BC and were built inside the grottoes inside the mountain where the current town stands nowadays. You are going to visit the stunning Duomo, rich in artworks and with its beautiful facade. From the Duomo we are heading to the streets of the historical center, among the artisan shops and the floreal alleys.

You cannot miss a visit to the Pozzo di San Patrizio, 62 meters deep and with a diameter of 13,5 meters.

Return to the hotel in the evening.

Italian food ingredients on wooden background.

Day dedicated to tastings, fun and the secrets of the Italian cuisine. A day with friends, with a magnificent chef, excellent food and selected ingredients in a welcoming environment. You are going to be Chef for one day… you are going to discover the secret techniques of the Italian cuisine.

Here are the main dishes: 1 Italian Chef New friends to meet, In the heart of Rome, among the scents and flavors of the restaurants 5 hours cooking lesson. 1 spoon rich in positive spirit 4 dishes with organic ingredients: Starter, homemade pasta, meat dish and dessert

Gran finale, sit and taste these good dishes in a friendly and fun environment!

Relish a fun and relaxing day in the gay beach of Capocotta. The natural reserve of Capocotta recalls the sea of Fire Island, the gay beach in New York, in the Hamptons in the dunes on wooden paths. Sea, sun and beach volley matches, a natural way to live the summer gay life of Rome. Return to Rome in the evening.

You will visit the Vatican Museum, where you are going to admire the sensuality of the Greek. Roman sculptures with their plastic shapes.

You will listen to what has never been told before.

The guide is going to tell you about secret love stories and scandals occurred within the papal rooms, and about the cruelest dynasties, the Borgias and the Sforzas.

You will admire the majesty of the Sistine Chapel, unveiling details usually hidden, as the presence in the Giudizio Universale of two men kissing each other to celebrate their Assumption in Heaven.

You will see many sculptures that recall the homosexual iconogra- phy, such as the ‘Apollo del Belvedere’, with his “twink” face and a “bear” body. To deeply understand the talent of the great art- ists whose artworks are exposed the guide will tell you everything about their personal life. From Michelangelo, homosexual and Catholic guy, at the service of Papal State, who represented his inner struggle in his ‘chiaroscuri’, until the lovestory between Leonardo Da Vinci and his disciple Salaì, that many researchers think may have been portrayed in the John the Baptist’s face, iwhen painting the ‘Last Supper’.

Check out in hotel and private transfer to airport on request. End of services.

Vatican Museums
Villa Adriana
Colosseum

What's Included

Accommodation
Car Rental
Cooking Class
Escorted Tours
Professional gay-friendly guide
Ticketing
Walking tour

What's Excluded

Everything not clearly mentioned on what's Included
Flights
Fuel, extra insurance and motorway fees
Personal extras
Tips
City tax (to be paid on the spot)

Additional Information

  • CAUTION: verify wheter your driving license may be used in Italy or if you need an international one.
  • The tour is fully customizable to suit your needs.

The Voice of Our Clients

Ian
Ian
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My husband and I booked the tour of the “Vatican in a gay light” for one morning during our trip to Rome. Our guide, Dario, was very knowledgeable of the historical significe of the art works as well as many of the anecdotes that provided context. We learned a great deal and truly enjoyed ourselves. This tour is too notch! Thank you.
Matt Berg
Matt Berg
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Excellent pre-cruise Quiiky tour in Venice. Great guide who had so much intimate knowledge of Venice. Besides being very handsome he is a local resident for more than 2 decades with so much intimate knowledge that you can’t get from a guidebook. This is my second time using Quiiky for tours and transfers; they’re my first choice in Italy!
Dan & Vince
Dan & Vince
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First I would like to thank you and your company and all involved for a wonderful trip. From beginning to end we continued to be amazed by all the wonder service we received from all of you. We had a fabulous time for our anniversary. All the guides were great and all better than we expected. It is hard to pick a best as they were all awesome, that being said, three stand out for being most personable and had a excellent sense of how to move us along our tours. Quiiky gets 5 out of 5 for all other ratings. Yes, we would positively reccommend for anyone considering travel to Italy. AND, Giovanna, you’re the best.
 John Bindlechner-Wigan
John Bindlechner-Wigan
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We adored our Quikky tour of the Vatican with our guide Claudio. We had been a little apprehensive about visiting the Vatican but this tour is the way to go! Claudio had an expert knowledge of the art collection and we enjoyed hearing the "other", more scandalous stories of the private lives of Michelangelo and the popes. We loved our visit to the museums, Sistine Chapel, grotto and St Peters - I recommend joining the queue and adding on the view from the dome of the basilica - well worth the stairs!
Denis Dallaire
Denis Dallaire
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The excursion to Capri was great! The headphone system worked really well and the guide Andrea was super nice and fun! He was a really good guide and would not hesitate to have him again. The food and drink offerings were very good. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Oliver Broad
Oliver Broad
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Thanks for a great alternative tour of the Vatican. Having visited back in 1999 I wanted something a little different to do with my husband who had never visited before. It is great to see Quiiky offering tours with a twist and can most definitely recommend this one for your next visit to Rome.
Greg Brady
Greg Brady
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First had a wonderful pre-cruise Quikky tour in Venice. Our guide was super friendly, knowledgeable, and a great deal of fun. Then I went on a tour of the Vatican and our tour guide was incredible. He is an expert on the Vatican and on the pertinent gay history (which turns out to be much more than you might even think). He literally made the Vatican come alive and provided one of the more fascinating tours I have taken anywhere. And the two wonderful owners of Quiiky picked us up and took us on a vehicular tour of Rome. Others got back from Rome complaining of the crowds and the heat... we got back energized, happy, and filled with fascinating information after an afternoon filled with fun and personalized care. Don't make the mistake thinking you will get an equivalent tour from a straight guide/company -- if you are gay, Quiiky is the way to go.
Auston Matta
Auston Matta
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I highly recommend Quiiky Travel for any guided visit to Rome or Italy. I was both surprised and entertained by everything GAY I learned about the Vatican on my tour. They are passionate about providing an excellent travel experience and I have no doubt that you would enjoy one of their tours or travel products.
Denis Dallaire
Denis Dallaire
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What a wonderful experience to Messina and Taormina. Antonio was a great guide with good knowledge and history-telling. Really enjoyed the history of the museum Cusena. Again the food and drinks on the boat were very good. Thank you so much!
Santiago Stanley
Santiago Stanley
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Our excursion to Messina and Taormina today was excellent. Antonio was amazing. Our food experience was on point … starting with the granita and Brioche in Messina and the arancini and cannoli in Taormina!!! The boat trip around the bays was spectacular and the food again!!! Eggplant Parmesan and the sardine dish and olives… Again Antonio was patient , knowledgeable sweet and always on time!! Excellent experience!!!
Adam Martindale
Adam Martindale
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We had a fantastic tour of the Vatican with Paolo from Quiiky. Paolo was knowledgeable, personable, fun and really gave us a different insight into the history of art and the gay artists that are part of the Vatican’s history and more! Highly recommended!
Theron Clark Stuart
Theron Clark StuartGroup Traveller
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It was easy to schedule our tour. Everything was explained in great detail, so there was no confusion on the day of the excursion. The vans were spotless and comfortable. Our guide for the Colosseum was exceptional in every way. He was cute, knowledgeable, witty, flexible and engaging. We met so wonderful folks and shared a wonderful lunch with the guys from our group. Could not have been happier with Quiiky.
Curtis Korchinsky
Curtis KorchinskyGroup Traveller
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Fantastic company to work with. Very easy and simple…..and good value. Will definitely book with them again!
Ron Davis
Ron Davis
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BEST TOUR COMPANY YOU COULD WISH FOR! I have done two tours in Rome with this amazing company and both times it was 20-30 people Expert process, memorable tours, top notch experience. We arrived by cruise ship and they handled everything. Regardless of how you arrive you will receive a tour that is personal and you feel like you w learned secrets and things you would never ever have heard or known. I wholeheartedly recommend them.
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The other side of Rome

From € 1,820

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Destination: Rome
Inspiration: Art & Culture

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