Bologna is a university city and, therefore, a destination for thousands of young people who want to pursue their studies.

The students who decide to move to Bologna have made it a lively and inclusive city, full of fun and a perfect place to meet people of all kinds.

The city is not only famous for being a place full of history, culture, art, mysteries, singer-songwriters and excellent cuisine, but also for its hospitality. Over time, a more accessible conception of gender and sexual orientation has developed among its inhabitants.

In Bologna, you can see impressive monuments, such as the Statue of Neptune, and lose yourself in its alleys until you reach the Jewish Ghetto right in the centre. You can protect yourself from the rain under the long entrances that lead from the city centre to the Church of San Luca. You will enjoy its squares, such as Piazza Maggiore, the famous Asinelli and Garisenda towers, and then eat in traditional taverns.

Besides all this, the city will show you another side of sharing, inclusion and freedom of thought: the gay and lesbian clubs. In this article, we explore gay-friendly Bologna, its clubs and nightlife.

First, however, is a brief introduction to Bologna's LGBTQ+ scene.

The LGBTQ+ Bologna

The city of Bologna is considered one of the most gay-friendly cities in Italy.

Its current status derives from its significant history and from being the city where Pier Paolo Pasolini, a symbol of the beginning of the Italian homosexual movement, was born.

Let us look back at some of the most important dates:

- 1997, the first student uprisings begin;

- 1978, birth of the movement called 'Circolo di cultura omosessuale XXVIII giugno' (XXVIII June Homosexual Culture Circle);

- 1982, turning point with the birth of the Cassero di Porta Saragozza, the first Italian LGBTQ+ centre;

- 1985, arcigay was founded in Bologna and immediately acquired thousands of members;

- 2002, the Cassero School Project brings gender identity education into schools.

But the story does not end! In June 2023, Bologna will host the most important LGBTQ+ choral festival in Europe, the Various Voices. It will be a celebration that will bring together thousands of musicians, singers and fans worldwide in five evenings of music and fun.

But Bologna is a city that always welcomes and offers endless opportunities for fun and sharing.

In the following paragraphs, you will find the most popular venues and evenings that bring together Bologna's LGBTQ+ community, but not only. Many of these evenings are also attended by heterosexuals precisely because the desire is to share the fun.

Gay clubs and nights in Bologna

Bologna is a city of alleys and narrow streets, so even bars and clubs are often small and full of people almost every day.

This is a city with large numbers of students and young workers. Also, as you will realize, the old town is quite concentrated, so it is easy to meet groups of people and make friends.

Whether you are alone or in company, you will certainly not be bored and will have the opportunity to meet new people with whom you can share your interests.

But if you want to know where to start, here are the best gay clubs and discos in Bologna:

• Bar Il Barattolo, in via Del Borgo di San Pietro 26/A, a place that is just a few steps from the two towers, so right in the centre. In the evenings they offer excellent and plentiful aperitifs, they also organize events that you can find on their Facebook page;
• Bar't Club, in via Polese 47/A, is the city's most transgressive gay club, which has become famous above all for its theme nights, for example on Monday evenings 'in your underwear' from 9.30 pm to 3 am, for the other days the dress code varies according to the kind of evening;

• RED Club, in via del Tipografo 2, Bologna's weekends are tinged red with organized evenings on Fridays and Saturdays with great music and performances. Keep an eye on the calendar to discover all the events;
• Il Cassero, via Don Giovanni Minzoni 18, is much more than a disco. This historic venue mentioned earlier is still a centre of culture and a symbol of the gay and lesbian community. Parties and special dance evenings are also organized here.
• SuperPop, these evenings come to life on summer Fridays at the Chalet in the Giardini Margherita, one of the most popular and popular venues.

Each event specifies who the evening is for, so you can be updated on a case-by-case basis and choose the ones that suit you.

Lesbian Clubs in Bologna

What about evenings dedicated only to women and those who feel like it?

The reference venues are the same as those mentioned in the previous paragraph. In addition, some evenings are specifically aimed at the gay community, others at the lesbian community, and still others at anyone who wishes to participate.

After all, these are parties and occasions to have fun, to have a meeting point with other people who share the same feelings and interests.

An all-female evening, born in 2012, is Les Chicas, where no dress code is required, just a lot of desire to get wild. Today, they organize evenings and meetings: we recommend you keep an eye on their Facebook page to stay updated.