Verona - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Verona's queer infrastructure is small. The best-known address is Lucla Cafe at Via Marcantonio Bentegodi 4/A. It is regarded as the only dedicated gay bar in the city. It opens in the morning as a café and has a terrace on a quiet square just off the main road. Regulars describe it as a friendly place for a morning coffee or an evening aperitivo, served with small snacks.

For men there is the sauna Liquid Club at Via Nicolò Giolfino 12, a short ride from the historic centre. The current owners have fully renovated the building, which spreads over several levels with dry saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzis, a garden terrace and a café-bar. Entry is for men only.

For advice, support and contact with the local community, the associations are the place to start. Arcigay Pianeta Milk is the Verona branch of the national Arcigay federation and runs meetings, counselling and events. Circolo Pink is one of the oldest queer associations in the city and set up a support service for trans people that was for a long time the only one of its kind in the Veneto region. Both take part in preparing Verona Pride.

The city administration now works openly with these groups. Its equal opportunities office organises events with them for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in May.

If you want a wider choice of bars and clubs, Milan and Bologna both have larger scenes and can be reached by direct train from Verona Porta Nuova. For an evening in Verona itself, Lucla Cafe is the obvious stop, and it is also where you are most likely to hear about upcoming events run by the associations.