Italy Gay

Rome
Mediterraneo Sauna (Via Pasquale Villari 3, +39-06/7720-5934; www.saunamediterraneo.it; EUR 13 or under-26s EUR 10; open daily 1 p.m.-midnight)
The Mediterraneo is a clean, modern sauna near the Coliseum, on three levels, with a well-lit maze, private rooms and whirlpool. Only the walls, painted clashing pinks and purples, are off putting. As with most saunas in Italy, you won’t see a great deal of action in the public areas, such as the steamroom or Jacuzzi. Staff speak English and Spanish. Arcigay membership required.

Europa Multiclub (Via Aureliana 40; +39-06/482-3650; www.gaysauna.it; open Sun-Thu 2 p.m.-midnight, Fri-Sat 2 p.m.-6 a.m.)
On the 3 floors of this bathhouse you’ll find a gym, whirlpool, sauna, solarium and private rooms. Massages are also offered. Pleasant and clean, it attracts men of all ages and quite a few Americans (it’s three blocks from the U.S. Embassy) as well as locals and other Europeans. Quite a few body-builders. The attached bar, Alcatraz, has a leather night on the last Saturday of the month.

Terme di Roma (Via Persio 4; +39-06/718-4378; www.termediroma.org)
This popular bathhouse has a small labyrinth, a bar and enough gym equipment to keep you busy. Saturday is Bear day. The place isn’t to be confused with the large public bathhouse of the same name.

Ambasciatori (Via Montebello near Termini Station)
If you’re going gray and like sex in movie theatres, this is the place to be. Busy with older men most afternoons and all weekends, with sex happening just about everywhere, but especially on the upper floor’s balcony area. Not for the faint of heart — and watch your wallet.

Florence
Arlecchino Cinema (Via De’Bardi 47, first street on left from Ponte Vecchio; open 4 p.m.-midnight)
This is a one-hall movie theatre with two balconies and a large dark area at the back. Little opportunity for privacy — expect to be watched by a crowd — but plenty of action, especially after 8 p.m. You can come and go all evening on the same entrance ticket. Not the cleanest of places; who knows what your knees might encounter if you kneel on the floor…

Milan
Metro Club(Via Schiaparelli 1; +39-02/6671-9089; www.metroclub.it/milanocentrale; open daily noon-2 a.m.; EUR 14 OR EUR 16.50 Sun, discounts for under 26 and before 8 p.m.)
A three-story sauna with Jacuzzi, whirlpool, Turkish bath, snack bar, massage services, Internet access, labyrinth and video lounge. It attracts a mixed but generally younger crowd and is conveniently located in the city center, just five minutes on foot from Centrale Station.

Teddy Sauna (Via Renzo e Lucia 3; +39-02/846-6148; open 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m., closed Wed)
Not the cleanest place you’ve ever come across, but air-conditioned. Massages and snacks available. Plenty of bears migrate this way, and the local bears club meets here on the fourth Saturday of the month from 6 p.m.

Thermas Club (Via Bezzecca 9; +39-02/545-0335; www.thermasclub.com, info@thermasclub.com; open daily noon-midnight, closed Thu)
Smallish venue with an often bear and leather focus, there’s a Jacuzzi, Finnish bath, fitness equipment, video bar and lounge. It’s often busy and very cruisy, especially on weekends.

Pisa
Sauna Siesta Club 77 (Via di Porta a Mare 25/27; open 3 p.m.-1 a.m.)
Once you get past the grumpy attendant who flings a ticket at you, you’ll find ugly décor and lots of cigarette smoke - but hey, just pretend you’re in some art house European movie. The plunge pool isn’t bad and the action is occasionally pumping, but there are better saunas elsewhere (maybe you should head for Germany).

Venice
Metro Venezia (Via Cappuccina 82B; +39-041/538-4299; www.metroclub.it/venezia; open daily 2 p.m.-2 a.m.; EUR 14 or Sun EUR 16, discounts for under-26s and before 8 p.m.)
For a relaxing afternoon or evening, Metro Venezia is the place to go. With a wide range of activities, it is very clean and attractive. Jacuzzi, wet and dry saunas, maze, cabins, video room, snack bar and massage. To get there, take a train to Mestre (eight minutes) and turn right on exiting the station.

  

 

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