Giacomo Casanova: A Legend of Love and Mystery in Venice

Venice 2025 Carnival is celebrating Giacomo Casanova. Discover the fascinating story of this Venetian legend

The 2025 edition of the Venice Carnival celebrates the legendary figure of one of its most famous citizens, Giacomo Casanova, marking the 300th anniversary of his birth. One of the highlights of the Carnival is the captivating water show titled Giacomo. A Love Story, taking place at the amazing space of the Arsenale. Combining dance, music, narration, video art, light and water effects, it offers an emotional journey through the life of this iconic Venetian character.

While some lucky people can experience this fantastic show in person, in these lines we will explore the intriguing life of Casanova, a blend of myth and reality that seduces us even through the pages of his story.

The early years: Giacomo's childhood

Giacomo Casanova was born in Venice on April 2, 1725. Orphaned at an early age by the death of his father, Casanova was raised by his grandmother, Marzia, while his mother, an actress, traveled constantly across Europe. One memorable episode from Giacomo's childhood happened when his beloved grandmother took him to the enchanting island of Murano. The young Giacomo suffered from frequent nosebleeds, and Marzia looked for a healer, finding a mysterious woman renowned for her mystical arts. It was here that Giacomo experienced the fateful encounter with the world of magic, a passion that would remain with him throughout his life.

His Youth: Medicine, Law, and Love

Following this experience, Casanova developed an interest in medicine, aspiring to become a healer who blended traditional practices with magic. However, his mother convinced him that a career in law offered better prospects, so he enrolled in law studies at the University of Padua. He did not stay on this path for long and was soon called back to Venice because he was more interested in pleasures and romance than in his studies.

In Constant Search

Back in Venice, Casanova attended the seminary but quickly abandoned the ecclesiastical path, realizing it was incompatible with his desires and lifestyle. It was at this point that he began his travels across Italy and Europe.

Casanova was resourceful and found different ways to earn a living. He earned money as a violinist and occasionally practiced the arts of healing and magic. Legend has it that during one of his returns to Venice, he cured a notable man of a serious illness. In gratitude, the man granted him a lifetime allowance of 10 zecchini per month, which funded Casanova's life of pleasure.

A Heartfelt Seducer

An enchanting blend of intellect, adventure, and sensuality, Casanova is often most remembered for his art of seduction. His beguiling charm won the hearts of women of remarkable influence: singers, actresses, noblewomen, and married ladies. His numerous lovers often helped him economically, and he always benefited from his irresistible charm.

His love affairs were countless, but some of them are iconic. His first romance was with Angela, an opera singer in Ancona who was known for her strong personality. It is said that she disguised herself as a man to be accepted as a professional singer in Ancona, which at that time was part of the Papal States. However, like many of Casanova’s loves, this intense passion was fleeting.

In Cesena, he encountered the woman who provoked in him the deepest emotions he would ever felt. In his memoirs, she is referred to as Henriette, though her true name remains a mystery. She was undoubtedly a married woman, traveling with an officer appointed by her husband. Upon meeting Casanova during her journey, she audaciously freed herself from her companion, to give herself to Giacomo. Beautiful, brilliant, and cultured, she possessed the qualities that pierced Giacomo’s heart.

They spent enchanting days together, but eventually had to part, and Casanova shed genuine tears at their separation. Though all of Casanova's tears were sincere, his pain never lasted long.

His One Eternal Love

Among all his loves and passions, only one was truly everlasting: his love for Venice. From every journey and adventure, he always returned to her, and she was the only one to eternally possess his heart.

During one of his returns to Venice, he was arrested on charges of practicing magic and imprisoned in the Piombi, the notorious prisons of the Serenissima Republic, beneath the Palazzo Ducale. However, he managed to escape, and legend has it that before fleeing the city, he treated himself to a coffee in Piazza San Marco: a final indulgence before leaving his beloved home.

The End of an Era

Giacomo Casanova passed away on June 4, 1798, in Bohemia, at the age of 73. He spent his final years in relative obscurity, far from the vibrant life of Venice. Despite his many adventures and romantic conquests, he died quietly, leaving behind a legacy that forever intertwined his name with the art of seduction and the allure of the mystery. His memoirs, Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life), filled with tales of love and adventure, continue to captivate readers and ensure that the spirit of the legendary seducer lives on.

Casanova's life story has inspired countless works of literature, theater, and film. He is the quintessential lover and adventurer. Even today, the term 'Casanova,' often playfully used as a synonym for heartbreaker, embodies a powerful symbol of charm and seduction. It reminds us of a man whose passion for life and love continues to resonate through the centuries.

To learn more about the events taking place in this special edition of the Venetian Carnival, read the Venice Carnival - 2025 Edition on our blog.