Neighborhood
Gay Street / Colosseum
in Rome, Italy
Bars and symbolic meeting point.
Where it is
The Gay Street runs along Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, the street linking the Colosseum to the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
Address: Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, 00184 Rome
What it is
Set in the shadow of the Colosseum, the street is the heart of gay Rome, lined with gay and gay-friendly bars, cafés and restaurants. It is busy especially in summer and in the evening, and is regarded as the central hub of the city's LGBT community.
History
The area around the Colosseum and the Oppian Hill had been a gathering place for gay people since the 1960s. In 2001 the bar Coming Out opened on Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, and the scene gathered around it, with more venues following. On the initiative of Arcigay Roma, the street was officially inaugurated as the Gay Street on 2 March 2007.