| Mario Stefani | |
| Birth Date: | 1938[1] |
| Birth Place: | Venice, Italy |
| Death Place: | Venice, Italy |
| Occupation: | Poet |
| Nationality: | Italian |
Mario Stefani (1938 – 4 March 2001) was an Italian poet.
Stefani was openly gay, and his poetry was some of the first Italian poetry to explore homosexuality.[2] A selection of his poetry was translated into English by Anthony Reid and published in 1982 as No Other Gods.[3]
Alongside his poetry, Stefani taught classes in literature and wrote literary and art reviews. He also presented a popular unscripted television show.
In 2001, graffiti began appearing around Venice, featuring a quote of Stefani's: "Loneliness is not being alone; it's loving others to no avail". A month later, Stefani hanged himself in his kitchen.[4] His $1 million estate was left to a fruit vendor whose young daughter had inspired his work.[5]
Details of his life were retold in John Berendt's 2005 book The City of Falling Angels.[4]