Portrait of Giacomo Casanova
You would like to go in the footsteps of Giacomo Casanova in Venice ?
If you are planning a tour of the lagoon city and you want to know the most significant places regarding one of the greatest "woman wasting" in history, read the article that a reader sent to Pills of History and you will know exactly how to move.
Happy reading.
Giacomo Casanova
Giacomo Casanova he was a writer, a poet, a diplomat, a scientist, a philosopher, a secret agent, an alchemist, an adventurer, an incredible character whose life has become a legend.
Born in Venice in 1725 , he left us a very large literary production.
He has written various works, both in verse and in prose.
The work that more than any other, however, has remained in history is his autobiography:" Historie de ma vie "( Story of my life ).
In this book he details his adventures, his encounters and the numerous loves that have made his name synonymous with libertine and tireless seducer .
He says he met people like Voltaire, Madame de Pompadour, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Benjamin Franklin, Frederick II of Prussia, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Catherine II of Russia.
He will visit many cities, but one city will remain directly linked to his name, his hometown, Venice .
His relationship with the Serenissima and its political authorities will be very troubled, but the bond with Venice will remain indissoluble.
Let's see together some of the main places linked to the life and legend of Giacomo Casanova.
Giacomo Casanova in Venice:places to visit
If you go to Venice and want to discover the places that most marked Giacomo Casanova's life, here are the ones you can't miss.
Calle Malipiero
Commemorative plaque in memory of the birth of Giacomo Casanova
Giacomo Casanova was born on 2 April 1725 at Calle Malipiero , near Palazzo Grassi .
He is the son of two actors.
He is baptized in the church of San Samuele .
He is soon orphaned of a father.
Her mother is a very beautiful woman and a rather well-known actress at the time, so much so that even Carlo Goldoni talks about her.
He is entrusted to the grandmother, who will grow it with a lot of love.
The young Casanova lives in a three-story apartment, with a living room on the second floor and a bedroom on the top floor.
This emerges from his writings and it was actually confirmed by the current house plan.
Lunagher Court
Giacomo Casanova also lived for a while at the Corte Lunagher , at Frezzaria .
This is a calle located in the San Marco district.
In this place today there are numerous commercial buildings and many activities related to tourism.
In the fifteenth century arrows were produced and sold here, hence the name of the street.
George Byron and a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart also stayed in this area .
Campo San Maurizio
In Campo San Maurizio resided Giorgio Baffo , poet, great friend of Giacomo Casanova.
This was the author of more than 12,000 poems in Venetian.
His poetry was extremely critical of the power, the clergy and the political class of the Serenissima.
The licentiousness is one of the main characteristics of his poetics, as openly erotic themes frequently recur and this aspect very much met the tastes of Casanova, who, speaking of the poet and friend, defined him:« Sublime genius, poet in the most lewd of genres, but big and unique ».
The bishop Pietro Zaguri also lived in the same building , a character who will have great influence on Casanova, especially from a political point of view.
Casanova therefore often frequented the place.
The Ridotto of San Moisè
In Venice there is the oldest casino in Italy , or rather the world.
The Republic of Venice was, in fact, the first state ever to officially open a regulated gambling house.
Inaugurated in 1638, it was located in the Ridotto di San Moisè .
The casino is still in operation today, but it is located in another location, namely Palazzo Ca Vendramin Calergi .
It is one of the four land-based casinos alongside important online casino platforms in Italy, representing a very significant market for our country.
Since its origins, the Venice casino represented a very important voice for the Serenissima's treasury.
Not only that:it also represented an aggregation point very important for the Venetian nobility, politicians and intellectuals.
Here you could talk freely and often met masked.
Obviously, the Ridotto di San Moisè was also the perfect place for clandestine love encounters .
Needless to say, Giacomo Casanova was a great visitor to this place.
He was skilled at the game and describes his passion well even in his memories.
Today the Ridotto di San Moisè is part of the hotel Monaco .
It is open to the public, but on request.
It is advisable to call the reception of the hotel to agree in advance about a possible visit.
The Bridge of Sighs and the Piombi
Giacomo Casanova in Venice:the Bridge of Sighs
The Doge's Palace in Venice is also famous for its prisons, known as the Piombi .
These can be reached by crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs .
His name was linked to the sighs of the condemned who observed the city of Venice for the last time from the windows of the bridge, before being taken to their cells.
Giacomo Casanova was imprisoned in the Piombi in 1755 , accused of insulting the institutions, libertinism, magic and Freemasonry.
However, thanks to the help of friar Marino Balbi , his cellmate, managed to escape through the rooftops.
He then pretended to be a visitor accidentally locked in the building, literally letting the door open, and then leaving Venice.
Today the place is accessible by visiting the Doge's Palace in Venice ( Photo from :biografieonline.it, ilbolive.unipd.it and it.wikipedia.org).