It goes with out saying that the Italians know a thing or two about fashion, and come December 6-8, it’ll be the perfect time to see how competition the Yankee boys can muster up—so long as you like leather. Lots and lots of leather. All you fetishized police uniform-loving lotharios listen up and polish up: Catacombs is a-comin’.
For all you clueless cotton-wearers, Catacombs most certainly is not some sort of necrophiliac orgy done in the proper setting. Rather, it is the premier leather event of Rome. The reasons to visit the Eternal City are as limitless as its birthdays, but this is probably one of the more fun ones. And all within view of the Vatican, which makes it even better…
For three days, thanks to the machinations of the Leather Club Roma, natives and visitors alike get a crash course on leather goods and what to do with them Italiano-style. From 9 PM on Friday (the 6th) to 4 PM on Sunday (the 8th), there is something going on, starting off on the 6th with a tip-of-the-iceberg “opening toast” party at the Caffè Quattrotempi before swinging into full gear (I mean that) at the Bunker Club. By Saturday night, it gets serious: Three parties in two locations, and every last one a zone of “fetish, BDSM, leather, rubber, master and slave, Jeans & boots.” Come Sunday is the Farewell Brunch and—swear to God—the Slave Market. I pulled tidbit from the website, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.
For you party-hard folk, this three-day bacchanal is your Paradisiso d’Italia, but even I would be nuts to go all the way to Rome and ONLY go to Catacombs (no offense). The history! The wine! The food! The art! This is not a one-note town; in fact, it even has a very rare church, Santi Sergio e Bacco, dedicated to a pair of saints who pull double-duty as gay lovers.
As a final note, and a big FYI, do not underestimate how passionate a leatherman is about “the life.” Catacombs (and every other leather event on the calendar from IML to Folsom) has very strict uniform requirements. No leather, no entry. To an outsider, it can seem so stringent as to be ridiculous, but look at it this way: You wouldn’t show up on the Academy Awards red carpet in a ratty robe and Big Bird-yellow fuzzy slippers.
In other words, Catacombs really IS where you should to do as the Romans do.
For more information, go to lcroma.com. Steele Luxury Travel offers heavily discounted business class airfares to Rome and beyond. Email [email protected] for more details!