This post was updated on February 2nd, 2020.
Rome is one of the quintessential destinations for any visit to Europe. The history, architecture and culture of this city are one-of-a-kind and are rivaled by few places in the world. But while it offers such a variety of sites and experiences to any traveler, it’s severely lacking a gay scene or even an acknowledgment that the community exists. No, Rome is not a “gay destination” and the Vatican City is one of the last places you’d think to find any tours for LGBT visitors.
Ok, don’t freak out…but yes, there is actually a Gay Tour of the Vatican, or the Vatican Museums, that is – even the New York Times recently wrote a story about it. Our friends over at Quiiky Travel recently created this ground-breaking tour giving you all the gay (and hidden) insights into the gay culture of the Vatican and the famous artists whose paintings fill its walls. Book the tour →
So without further adieu, here are 5 Gay Stories the Vatican Doesn't Want You to Know…
1. Michelangelo Was Gay?!
Just about anybody that’s made it through the 8th grade knows Michelangelo, including his two most famous works, the Sistine Chapel and his masterpiece, the statue of David. But what most don’t know is that he was gay…or at least there’s historical evidence proving that he was attracted to men. To be clear, the concept of being “gay” didn’t exist until the early 20th century after Sigmund Freud was the first to address homosexuality in a public and professional manner. But historians have actually come to the conclusion that Michelangelo was “gay” and there are records that he had a number of male lovers over the years. Some historians will disagree – but I'd expect these are the conservatives and especially those tied to the Catholic Church itself.
2. Leonardo da Vinci was Accused of Sodomy
Historical documents have shown that Leonardo da Vinci was accused of sodomy…two separate times. I’m sorry, but I never learned this in art or history class. Obviously it’s a story kept out of the history books and surely one the Vatican would be happy to deny. Though he was never convicted of the crime (a serious offense in those days), historians have concluded that he was also “gay,” just like so many of the artists in the time of the Renaissance whose art you’ll find in the Vatican Museums.
3. St. Sebastian is the Unofficial (& Homoerotic) Patron Saint of the Gays
What the what?! Who is St. Sebastian and how did he become the patron saint of the gays? For those not familiar with the Catholic tradition, a patron saint is someone who represents and looks after a certain group of people. For example St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, St. Michael the patron saint of the sick and St. Valentine the patron saint of love…you get the idea. So naturally, the Vatican would have nothing to do with this, but many devout gay Catholics in Italy and around the world have looked to St. Sebastian for protection. Ok, so why St. Sebastian…?
Probably because of this paintaing…typical, and kind of hot, right?!
4. Gay Lovers in the Sistine Chapel?
One of the most revered pieces of artwork in the world, the paintings lining the inner walls and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was one of Michelangelo’s most famous masterpieces, taking more than 4 years to complete. So what about gay lovers, you say? Face the far wall of the chapel and look to the top right corner. You’ll find three sets of men embracing each other. There is even historical evidence that one of these couples represents an aging Michelangelo and one of his young lovers, perhaps Cecchino dei Bracci, Gherardo Perini or Tommaso Cavalieri…well the list goes on and on.
5. There was a gay Pope?!
First of all, it’s likely that there have been numerous gay Popes over the centuries. Realize that there have been 266 Popes since the foundation of the Catholic Church – so you do the math. In fact, there are rumors inside the Vatican now about a more recent Pope who had an “intimate” relationship with one of the Swiss guards who was later discharged and classified as “mentally unstable,” according to the Vatican’s medical professionals. And given that the rumor comes from the wife of a current Swiss guard, it’s not unlikely that there is some truth in it.
But this story isn’t about the recent unnamed Pope, but rather Pope Julius II – who is known by historians to have had numerous homosexual relationships. Naturally, any Vatican official would deny this but there is overwhelming evidence from a variety of different sources. According to the Queers in History Blog, “Julius’s enthusiastic patronage of Michelangelo's homoerotic depictions of the male figure also indicates that he may have fully appreciated the physical beauties of men.” We’ll let that speak for itself…
Oh and one final note, Pope Julius II was the one who actually commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel. See the connection now?!
In addition to the Gay Vatican Museums tour, Quiiky Travel offers various tours around Rome and all over Italy. Check out these additional tours in Rome.
Gay Tour Rome: Colosseum and the Domus Aurea – The Domus Aurea is Emperor Nero’s expression of luxury and power. It was originally composed of 200 rooms, on three floors, with many golden decorations and amazing frescoes. Book tour →
Rainbow Tour: the Secret Gay History of Rome – Take a deep dive into Rome’s secret gay history during this LGBT-friendly tour with a guide. Exploring on your own, you may pass the top Rome highlights but not know the gay history behind them. Through guided commentary, you’ll learn little-known facts and figures about Rome’s gay history. Stops include the spot where Julius Caesar was killed, the Imperial Forum, the Basilica of Santa Maria, Opium Hill, and Rome’s Gay street where you’ll stop at a famous gay pub. Book tour →
If you’re looking for some help planning your Italian visit or want some insider tips from a gay guide, then this company might just be for you. Check out their website as we highly recommend them and know them personally. In fact, you can get a discount on all Quiiky tours, just click here to request a discount.
Have you ever visited Rome before? Would you consider taking a “gay tour” of the Vatican Museums? Let us know in the comments below!
Note: Quiiky Travel sponsored my visit to the Vatican Museums. As always, rest assured all opinions are 100% our own. In fact, we highly recommend Quiiky Travel for any guided visit to Rome or Italy. They are passionate about providing an excellent travel experience and I have no doubt that you would enjoy yourself if you choose them. Also, we are partnering with Quiiky Travel which means we earn a small commission if you use them, but there is no obligation of course.
Customer
I feel like I could throw these facts at all the unassuming Christian homophobes right know… I’m feel so knowledgeable
Customer
Hi – where are your ‘share’ buttons?
Auston Matta
Should be available at the button of the post on the web version.
Customer
This doesn’t bear on Rome specifically, or any travel that I know about, but Eastern Christians venerate a COUPLE, the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, quoted as calling each other LOVER in their OFFICIAL bio, and invoked in the sacrament of Making Brothers (or Sisters) which is the Traditional BASIS of Christian (hetero) marriage ceremonies. Every Russian named Sergei has St. Sergius/Sergios for his patron saint.
They were soldiers converted from paganism whose martyrdom included forced feminization. It’s possible one of early Christianity’s most radical stances, repugnant to most Jews at the time as well as pagans around them, was to religiously bless Christians’ adult same-sex unions/life partnerships, and include gays in the same spiritual disciplines as straights, for their salvation.
Brothermaking appears to be a multi-purpose sacrament, not just for gays/lesbians but business partnerships, revolutionary conspiracies, platonic spiritual friendships, fellow religious pilgrims (travelers), etc. It also appears to be used in low-key parts of Eastern Christianity from ancient times till today, but was also used for many centuries in Western Christianity, where it would be called a “sacramental.”
Customer
OMG!! I wish I knew that tour before, I just went last year to Rome, it was such an experience but if I knew about it I would take it
Hope I can go back someday
Very interesting the info ;)
Auston Matta
Oh no! that’s too bad. I’m not sure if they were doing the tour when you last went, but perhaps :-)
Customer
Very interesting! I had heard about Michaelangelo, but I did not know about the other stories. The Vatican probably hides more facts that it admits…..
Auston Matta
Oh I’m sure there so many covered up stories. Can’t even begin to imagine….
Customer
I had a very progressive art history teacher in University, so she went into depth about Michaelangelo’s alleged homosexuality. If you pay attention, even his women are quite muscly as he was basically painting what HE found attractive… Then painted boobs on them! ;)
Didn’t I also hear there was a pope who turned out to be a female? Not exactly gay, more of a Mulan type of fact. Can’t remember (or don’t know enough to remember) who it was, but they found out he was a woman after her death. Might be a rumour though I wouldn’t put it past the Vatican, with a history full of murder, mystery and mayhem!
I love the museums though, one of the best collections of art in the world for sure.
Customer
That’s Pope Joan. She died during childbirth.
Auston Matta
lol. that’s crazy!
Customer
I saw the DVD Pope Joan. Interesting.
Customer
Yes, I watched a special on the female pope. Allegedly gave birth to a child during a Papal procession!
Auston Matta
now that’s weird!
Auston Matta
It’s crazy how many stories there are like this. Never heard the lady Pope thing, but WTF…who knows, right?!
Customer
Auston I love love this article :)
I went there 10 yrs ago when I was a student part of an inter railing summer. I WISH I knew about the Quiiky tours. Seb hasn’t been to Rome so I want to go with him when we so a will definitely check them out.
A gay Pope? Porn in the photos and in the Sistine Chapel itself? Pisses my pants laughing reading this.
Auston Matta
It’s a pretty interesting tour. Definitely check them out when you’re back. Oh and you should change you pants if you pissed them ;-)
Customer
I knew the da Vinci fact. I feel so knowledgeable right now.
Customer
None of DaVinci’s primary biographers, Freud, Michael Gelb, or Serge Bramly considered DaVinci to be physically homosexual,, and the accusation (only one, not two) of DaVinci’s sodomy was a very common setup in Florence, and was dismissed. Michelangelo had a deep love for a heterosexual man who was married with two children. Given the way that love was so effusively expressed at that time, it didn’t necessary suggest homosexual love (read .Galileo’s Daughter). As far as Michelangelo’s paintings and sculpts being suggestive of autoeroticism (whatever that’s supposed to mean), it wouldn’t have made a great deal of sense, artistically or otherwise to exclude the sex organs of figures that were otherwise so explicitly constructed. If you take the time to dissect this article, I think you’ll find that it’s littered with generalities, and the writer posted it to influence in the manner that he hopes to influence – not to inform. Unfortunately the internet is replete with this type of nonsensical, subjective journalism.
Customer
I’m sorry, but you’re argument is really weak. You’re basically saying that he can’t be gay because none of his biographers said so even though none of them lived at the same time period. They never knew him, met him or even lived in the same time period as him. So I think that you should really check you’re facts. Also, even if he wasn’t physical with other men, that doesn’t mean he’s not gay. You should really expand your knowledge of sexuality before you try and be homophobic because the thought of someone so famous not liking the opposite sex makes you uncomfortable. JUST NO.
Customer
Poor thing, does it make you gay the fact that these great artists were gay?
Customer
Love your expression about the biographers not considering him to be “physically homosextual.” Huh??? You’re trying to sound scholarly by saying the equivalent of “He couldn’t have been gay because a couple of biographers don’t think he “did it.” Is a non-physical homosexual a spirit or a celibate gay priest– or what are you getting at. Some one is only homosexual if they’ve inserted x into y? That sir is quite a limited understanding of sexuality in general and most definitely of homosexuality. And who care what these great art figures did or identified as– More power today Vinci and all of them. The way Michelangelo made love with a paint brush or a piece of marble is certainly more sexual or homoerotic than a blow job. Keep enjoying Da Vinci’s work and Michelangelo’s work– (read his sonnets while you’re at it). No one will mention your possible “issues” with the whole issue.
Auston Matta
Don’t even want to know how you knew that. LOL ;-)