What the heck is it about Casanova? If you see a painting of him, he is not that much to look at.
Of course, in the time of my generation, the term “Casanova” meant that a person was a seducer, someone who “really got around.” I wonder if the name Casanova is even known with kids today?
At any rate, all the accusations were true of the real Casanova. He was Giacomo Casanova, remembered for his love affairs and his tendencies of being a womanizer.
What most people don’t know, is that he was thrown in prison for those wild and wooly ways. On today’s date, in, 1755 Giacomo Casanova was arrested in Venice for his “affront to religion and common decency.” He was imprisoned in the Doge’s Palace. (The Doge’s Palace is a palace considered to be a masterpiece of Gothic style architecture and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy.)
Back to it. That is where Casanova grew up, Venice. At the time of his birth, the city of Venice thrived as the pleasure capital of Europe. The area was ruled by political and religious conservatives. But, as with all things, concessions were made. Those conservatives tolerated social vices and encouraged tourism.
It was a required stop on the Grand Tour, traveled by young men coming of age, especially men from the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Grand Tour was something I’d never heard of before. During the 17th- and 18th-century, it was a sort of “traditional” trip through Europe undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank. They went on this excursion with a chaperone, such as a family member. And it usually happened when they had come of age, about 21 years old.
So yes. Venice was a big stop. There was the famed Carnival, the gambling houses, and the beautiful courtesans. It was a stop on the Grand Tour. And, you see, this was also the environment that bred Casanova. He turned out to be quite a rabble-rouser.
He became an adventurer and a writer. Throughout his life, he worked as a spy, professional gambler, and librarian. He also became a Freemason and earned the title of Master Mason. Whatever that is. But Casanova was mostly known for his love affairs. And he ran around Venice with a vengeance. His police record became a lengthy list of blasphemies, seductions, fights, and public controversy.
Which eventually led to his arrest and imprisonment, in a terrible, terrible place. He escaped though. It took some doing, but he made it eventually.
According to a short piece written by the NYT, Casanova slept with at least 132 different women. No wonder the guy was always on the run. He moved around Europe, spending a lot of time in Paris. In his final years, he landed in Prague. He died at the age of 73. Casanova was buried at Dux (nowadays Duchcov in the Czech Republic), but the exact place of his grave was forgotten over the years. No one knows where Casanova is these days. (Born: April 2, 1725, Died: June 4, 1798).
In all that I read about him, he didn’t seem to be very happy along the way. He wrote an autobiography, entitled, Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life). It is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century. I haven’t read it and doubt that I will. From what little I know, it appeared he spent most of his life trying to avoid trouble. He was frequently on the run. The real question is, what was he really running from?
I believe our only true fulfillment comes when we stay in the appreciation of the present moment, in all it has to offer.
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“The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” – William Morris
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“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Denis Waitley
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“Happiness is the interval between periods of unhappiness.” – Don Marquis
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