A guided tour to discover the most famous seducer of all time: Giacomo Casanova and the Libertine Venice .Against the backdrop of a decadent and irresistible Venice, we will discover the places associated with the famous libertine, but also his friendships, family, loves, vices, vicissitudes…
To understand a figure like Casanova and his controversial relationship with Venice, however, it is necessary to take a leap back in time, and return to the origins of the erotic myth of Venice. In fact, we will also visit the city’s old red-light district, and find out why the city’s charm is inextricably linked to eroticism and seduction. Moving through Libertine Venice is a journey between eras: the decadent charm of 18th-century Venice, the setting of Casanova, his escape of leads, of the reduced and of the gambling casinos, would not be such without the golden age of Venetian courtesans: the 1500s. Immortalized in the writings of Pietro Aretino or the paintings of Tintoretto, you will discover why these very women who lived two centuries before Casanova are the incipit of our journey into the life of this man, creator of his own legend.
Proposed itinerary
Our journey starts from the marvelous Campo San Polo, the place of Giacomo Casanova’s destiny, and penetrates to the Ponte delle Tette, the Carampane district, and what remains of the famous Rialto Castle-the first red-light district in Venice.
Past the Rialto Bridge, we will talk about the great Venetian courtesans and a famous libertine of the Italian Renaissance: Pietro Aretino. We will move to the parish of San Samuele, the place of Giacomo Casanova’s childhood. I will show you the real house where he was born (eh no, it is not in the calle marked by the plaque…) and we will get to know his first loves, some friends, and his initiator into theart of love: the erotic poet Giorgio Baffo.
However, women were not Casanova’s only vice… Arriving in San Moisé, the Venetian worldly entertainment area, we will follow our seducer through gambling, private casinos and the famous Ridotto.
This tour will also take you to see St. Mark’s Square with different eyes, many here are the places that were frequented by Casanova, including the Café “Alla Venezia Trionfante,” today Café Florian. But St. Mark’s is also the site of the acrobatic tale of the escape from the Piombi. What were they? To what did they owe this name? Is Casanova’s tale really truthful? And at the root of his incarceration, was there really libertinism?
We will try to answer these and other questions, but to understand the true meaning of the term “libertinism,” there is no better place than Campo Santa Maria Formosa! Few people know that this beautiful area of Venice is linked to libertinism for many, ancient reasons… and fate wanted to include it in Casanova’s life as well!
Customizable
If within the tour you would like to explore other aspects of Libertine Venice, such as artistic or social, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is possible to include a visit to these sites:
Optional:
- Guided tour of the Museum of Palazzo Grimani in Santa Maria Formosa
- Guided tour at Ca’ Rezzonico, Museum of the Venetian 1700s
- Guided tour of the church of San Giovanni Elemosinario in Rialto with the most erotic chapel in Venice
This itinerary is proposed by:
Manuel Meneghel – tour guide
Qualifications: Italian, English
Tel. +393493078255
Email: manuel.meneghel@goguide.it
Website: venezialibertina.com
P.IVA: 04561760275
Contatta una guida
The itineraries in this guidebook:
