He was born in Venice in 1725. His parents were actors and he was the first of six children. At an early age, he went to boarding school in Padua, where he lived with his teacher, Abbé Gozzi, and his family. It was here that he was first introduced to the charms of the opposite sex when Gozzi's younger sister, Bettina, fondled him at the age of eleven. Casanova later wrote: "It was she who little by little kindled in my heart the first sparks of a feeling which later became my ruling passion."
Graduating from the university of Padua with a law degree, he also studied moral philosophy, chemistry, and mathematics. A strong interest in medicine would serve him well in later life. The strong interest he developed in gambling however, would have mixed success.
He returned to Venice, which at the time was known as the pleasure capital of Europe.
It was around this time that Casanova had his first full sexual experience with two young sisters, Nanetta and Maria Savorgnan. Casanova claimed later that it was this experience that set him on his licentious path.
'Piombi' Prison
He was forced to leave France and was subsequently arrested several times over his debts. Casanova had tired of this lifestyle. After visiting a monastry, he was contemplating becoming a monk. The idea didn't last long as he ran into a new 'object of desire' on his way back to the hotel. For the next years he roamed across Europe. Using the name 'Chevalier de Seingalt', he tried to sell his idea for a state lottery and moved from one sexual romp to another. He even spent some time in England where his inability to speak English made it difficult for him to find sexual partners. He got round the problem by placing an advertisement in a newspaper to let an apartment, and then interviewed the applicants. His lottery idea was turned down, first by George III in England, then by Fredrick the Great in Prussia, Catherine the Great in Russia and finally Charles III in Spain.
In 1774, after 18 years in exile, he was finally given permission to return to Venice. But by now he was ill and exausted. With few friends, no money for gambling and few women interested in him, Venice was a different place for Casanova. He visited the deathbed of Bettina Gozzi, the girl who had first introduced him to sex, as she died in his arms. Turning back to writing, his bitterness brought him into conflict with the authorities and he was forced to leave again.
Castle of Dux - Photo: Bouquet
