Day Trips and Excursions :: FROM GIORDANO BRUNO TO TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

FROM GIORDANO BRUNO TO TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
A Gay Walking Tour of Rome

We begin our tour in the colorful and lively square of today’s fruit and vegetable market, the Campo de’ Fiori, at the center of which stands a monument to the great philosopher Giordano Bruno. This is the very spot where he and countless others were burned at the stake for the interchangeable crimes of heresy and sodomy. As you will learn from your fascinating guide and local expert, to this very day, a sobriquet for ”homosexual” in Italian is ”finocchio” from the fennel seeds which were thrown upon the flames to dissipate the stench of burning flesh. Make a detour to the splendid Piazza Farnese to view the most magnificent palace in Rome, the Palazzo Farnese. This imposing building, originally built for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, became the prototype for many princely palaces and gay artist Michelangelo collaborated in the design of the cornice. The beautiful fountains provide the first introduction to gay emperor, Hadrian. We plunge now into the labyrinth of Baroque Rome to visit the neighborhood of Gore Vidal and, centuries earlier, openly gay artist Caravaggio. In the nearby Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, we will view his magnificent triptych of the Conversion of St. Matthew in which figure the portraits of many of the comely Roman youth after whom he lusted. Not far away is the Piazza di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva - venue of the infamous Roman Inquisitions where countless homosexuals were judged and condemned. Inside the church of the same name we view one of the most homo-erotic sculptures in Renaissance history, a young Michelangelo’s exuberant Risen Christ. Through a jumble of streets we will enjoy a delicious panorama of the Temple of Hadrian - the emperor famous for the love of his favorite boy Antinous. We carry on a bit further to view the Palazzo Colonna where 16th poet, reputed lesbian and great friend of Michelangelo, Vittoria Colonna once resided. Beside this palace is the beautiful Church of Santissimi Apostoli where Michelangelo was first buried. We next visit the marvellous Trevi Fountain. There is a long-established tradition that if you throw a coin into the fountain before your departure from Rome it will bring good luck and ensure your return. Many of today’s local visitors are looking for another sort of entertainment at this still popular cruising spot. Continue in Caravaggio’s footsteps to the Piazza di Spagna where, for centuries, artists’ models and hustlers could be found lounging on the famous cascade of the Spanish Steps. Indeed, this was a frequent haunt of Tennessee Williams and his chosen locale for the film, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone in which Warren Beatty plays a Roman gigolo! Later The Amazing Mr. Ripley would use the same locales.