Does anybody know of any good gay bars or gay friendly restaurants/locations to go in Rome or Florence? I will be visiting Rome and Florence toward the end of October. Two years ago we went to Hangar's in Rome. Any other suggestions? I may also be stopping in Cortona and Cinque Terre, but I'm sure there is no gay life in the countryside. Thanks.

>>>>>I may also be stopping in Cortona and Cinque Terre, but I'm sure there is no gay life in the countryside.<<<<<<<<

was that supposed to be a joke?

Why would you think it's a joke? It sounds like a pretty logical statement to me.

If you haven't already, take a look at this site:

http://www.gaymap.info/rome/Locali%20Bar.html

Also here:

http://www.pinkagenda.com/travel/italy.html

Time Out Guides are great for this kind of information. Florence is reputedly the gay capital of Italy.

You may also be interested in:
http://www.gayflorence.com/
http://www.gayrome.com/
(boy, do those guys need a web designer)
http://www.gaybarsitaly.com/

Please do NOT tell anyone in Milan that Florence has become the gay capital of Italy as a riot will surely ensue.

garyca, suggesting that gays only live in cities is pretty offbeat. would you also think it logical if someone said there is no gay life in rural california?

before I scrap breaks out, I suspect Alan is merely guessing that there isn't a huge gay bar life in the countryside. And he'd be right.

'Gay life' is easier to find in a city, that's all.

earl, what are you going to do, go up and knock on someone's farm house door?
;-)

Most of you seem to get it. Thanks.

I'm glad everybody has caught on. There probably are even gay people on the moon, however gay life isn't most prevalent there. Thank you everybody for your replies.

i didn't mean to make an issue. the poster didn't say there are no gay bars in the countryside. he said he was sure there is no gay life in the countryside. i just thought that was very naive. but i didn't realize he wasn't being literal. i'm not in the loop and didn't know that gay life meant gay bars. i apologize.

Had a great visit to a very good restaurant in Trastevere called ASINOCOTTO, gay owned with ahd operated (something you can say about many, many restaurants, I'm sure, but not all publicize the fact and are out there developing a gay clientele.)
http://www.asinocotto.com/

Clearly a popular place, now there for 5-6 years or so, and the crowd is completely a mixed one of M/F couples, M/M, F/F ... probably more straight couples than not. A sort of minimalist decor, but in the feel of trastevere: white stucco walls, subtle lighting, good staff. And you'll get to meet the well-reviewed (though shy) chef at some point, no doubt, as he makes the rounds of the room. Excellent cuisine, on the nuovo side of Italian, as opposed to traditional. Reservations recommended here.

I just came back from Florence. (Have used the gay guide and maps on:
http://www.patroc.com/florence/)
The busiest gay place in this area actually IS in the countryside, the Fabric in Calenzano, about 20 km outside Florence. Because housing is extremely expensive within Florence many guys live in the smaller cities between Florence and Pisa. Also for club owners it is simply too expensive to rent bigger spaces within Florence.