Description
Pisa and Lucca are two Tuscan gems rich in history, art and traditions. These two cities have always been a symbol of resistance against the Florentine hegemony to such an extent that even today the citizens of Pisa and Lucca are still proud to flaunt a fiercely independent and unique heritage. The history of the gay and lesbian community of these two splendid cities blends inextricably with the first civil rights movements and the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in Italy.
In this new, unprecedented, LGBTQ+ themed tour we will take you to discover the immense artistic heritage of these two cities, analyzing the historical causes that have transformed Pisa and Lucca into strongholds of the Italian gay and lesbian community from the past to the present! Starting from Lucca, the only city after Florence to set up a special court for “sodomitic crimes“, called the “Uffizio sopra l’Onestà”. In a city that had just 20,000 inhabitants, the list of names that appear in the registers leads us to believe that Lucca was full of erotic tensions, which flared up in the many silk factories – all frequented by men – present in the city (Lucca boasts a centenary tradition of silk manufacturing!). We will take you through the picturesque streets of Lucca, in the shadow of Romanesque basilicas and stately buildings, telling you the untold queer stories of this animated and mysterious city!
We will then move on to discover Pisa, the city that hosted the first Italian Gay Pride in 1979. After the Stonewall riots and following some homophobic attacks in Viareggio, the Orfeo Collective of Pisa decided to organize a peaceful parade through the streets of the city that ended with a joyful roundabout right in Piazza dei Miracoli, by the iconic Leaning Tower. This area was once a popular gay cruising spot!
Through the streets of the ancient maritime republic, we will lead you to discover Piazza de’ Cavalieri, home to the most important university in Italy, the Scuola Superiore Normale. The princely palace on the square belonged to the glorious Medici family, who turned it into the meeting place of the Accademia del Cimento (the ramshackle scientific academy made up of eccentric queer scientists who competed to get into the good graces of the Grand Duke!). We will conclude our thematic itinerary in front of the only Italian mural by Keith Haring, the well-known New York homosexual artist who died in 1990. Haring left Pisa a moving and fascinating work entitled “Tuttomondo“, a universal symbol of love and brotherhood.
Our thematic and guided tour to discover the queer history of Lucca and Pisa will show you these two fabulous cities, their art and their traditions, from a point of view you had never imagined that will remain etched in your memory forever!
WHAT WE WILL DO TOGETHER:
- We will visit the main monuments, squares and attractions of Lucca and Pisa including the ancient cathedral of San Martino in Lucca, founded in the 6th century, and the magnificent Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, home to the iconic Tower.
- We will travel through streets, timeless squares and modern boulevards, telling you the LGBTQ+ story of the two symbolic cities of Tuscany.
- If you wish, we can plan guided visits to museums in Lucca and Pisa, such as the Museum of Ancient Ships in Pisa or the Cathedral of San Martino in Lucca.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
IMPORTANT: The tour is private! Choose the most convenient time and day. Please, dress appropriately as we will be visiting churches.
TIMETABLES: The tour is available every day.
ACCESS: There are no paid entrances. For admission to the museums, contact us.
TRANSPORTATION: Transportation is not included in the tour fee, which only includes the cost of the guided tour. To request a quote, contact us.
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