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About

Palermo's gay sauna, on the corner of Via Scarlatti and Via Maqueda in the historic centre. It was the first in the city and it is still the only one, a few minutes on foot from the Teatro Massimo along the pedestrianised stretch of Maqueda.

The wet side has a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a jacuzzi. Around them are a video lounge, a lounge bar, a smoking area, a fun zone and cabins, plus a massage service the FAQ is at pains to describe as a professional beauty treatment and nothing more. A towel and slippers come with entry.

Two house rules are worth knowing before you go. It is a private club affiliated to A.N.D.D.O.S., so a membership card is required and you need photo ID to get one, tourist options included. And access is men only: the FAQ states plainly that women and trans people are not admitted, while adding that whether you call yourself gay, straight or bisexual is nobody's business. Walking around naked is not allowed either.