Description
The ancient Greeks accused the Etruscans of excessive sexual freedom, both among heterosexuals, who enjoyed having menage-à-trois, and homosexuals, as shown by the numerous sex images found in the tombs of southern Etruria. Certainly, the Etruscans were a people who knew how to enjoy life! They had refined tastes, appreciated food, love and entertainment and held women in the highest regard! Florence is home to one of the most important national archeology museums, with collections of Etruscan, Roman, Greek and Egyptian art, which is the result of the research of important personalities in the archaeological field, as well as the collecting passion of the Medici and the Habsburg-Lorraine ruling families. In this journey on the traces of LGBTQ+ life among ancient populations, we want to present to you the most seductive and “spicy” side of these peoples who have left us testimony of a much more modern lifestyle than you might think!
In our queer archaeological tour, we will tell you about the origins of the powerful Etruria (the land ruled by the Etruscans) and its dominion over the Mediterranean Sea. We will analyze the constitution of the family, the value of relationships and religion, through the precious artifacts in the museum. Here, you will be able to see not only sarcophagi and tomb slabs, but also the great bronzes of antiquity such as the spectacular Chimera of Arezzo, the hybrid monster that the city of Arezzo has been claiming as its property since 1555! In addition to the precious Etruscan objects, we will admire marbles of Greek athletes, sarcophagi depicting tempting Amazons and the precious François Vase, whose mystery continues to fascinate scores of contemporary archaeologists!
After the visit to the museum, we will move to Fiesole, the small urban center located on the hill a few kilometers away from Florence and easily reachable both by bus and taxi (see below). According to legend, it was Atlas who, tired after a series of efforts, asked Apollo where he could rest and the god of art and music recommended this hill to him. The giant flattened the top of the hill with a mighty fist and exclaimed “Tu fies sola”, which means “You will be the only one”, indicating its incomparable beauty. The Etruscan-Roman city still offers one of the best preserved archaeological sites in all of Tuscany, which can be visited in a single cumulative ticket. The area includes the Roman theater, the ancient Etruscan-Roman temple and the ancient thermal baths!
We will lead you to the discovery of these archaeological wonders, located in one of the most enchanting landscapes of the area, and we will tell you how the citizens of Etruscan and Roman Fiesole lived, what homosexuality meant back then, and what traces these ancient people left us. We will also visit the small Archaeological Museum of Fiesole, located inside the archaeological area, where we will be able to admire the fragments that were part of the ancient Roman theater and some objects from the Lombard era, including armors, jewelry, glass and skeletons! At the end, we will take you to the top of the hill of San Francesco, where the Franciscan convent now stands. This was once the seat of the ancient Etruscan acropolis, from whose top you can enjoy a wonderful view over the Florentine valley!
WHAT WE WILL DO TOGETHER
- We will visit the collections of the Florence National Archaeological Museum, with particular attention to the Etruscan one, without forgetting the Greco-Roman archaeological masterpieces and the Florentine Egyptian mummies!
- We will take you to Fiesole and we will explain the history of this ancient timeless Etruscan village
- We will admire the remains of the Roman Theater of Fiesole dating back to the 1st century BC, which is currently among the oldest Roman theaters in the world and still perfectly preserved!
- We will take you to the hill of San Francesco, where the Franciscan Friars built a monastery right on the altars of Etruscan Fiesole!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
IMPORTANT: The tour is private! Choose the most convenient time and day.
TIMETABLES: The tour is available every day except Mondays.
ACCESS: The price of the tour does not include the entrance fee to the museum. Tickets are always charged to the customer. We will make the reservations for you in order to guarantee a speedy entrance!
TRANSPORTATION: Fiesole is easy to reach. You can take a cab (the fare is approx. 15/20,00 € depending on time and traffic conditions) or a bus (check lines and info here).
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