Tag Archives: history

Quattro Minuti con Casanova: Calle del Carbon

Posted on December 1, 2019 by

In the last few weeks we’ve seen so many images of Venice’s streets submerged under far too much water. As a small antidote, here is a video from a couple summers ago when I visited one of the streets where … Continue reading →

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In Casanova’s Footsteps: Rome–Monte Cavallo

Posted on November 17, 2019 by

I’ve mostly told you about Casanova’s troubles due to Barbaruccia’s love affair. But that’s certainly not the only thing Casanova did in Rome in 1744-45. In fact, he met the Pope! He tells us that he went to Monte Cavallo, … Continue reading →

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Venice, Wish You Were Here #5

Posted on October 22, 2019 by

Okay, more mysteries here! The postcard shows a huge nighttime festival on the Grand Canel, with numerous boats and lighted platforms. It reads “The Floating Fiesta on the Canal Grande,” but is this the Regata Storica? Festa della Salute? Redentore? … Continue reading →

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Casanova’s Less Known Brother

Posted on October 8, 2019 by

Last year when I visited the Casanovist (and my friend) Marco Leeflang, he showed me the many artworks in his home, most of them by his father. But on the mantel in one room sat this drawing by Giovanni Casanova, … Continue reading →

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In Casanova’s Footsteps: Rome–San Carlo al Corso

Posted on September 25, 2019 by

Sometimes we can read lengthy tales about what Casanova did in a particular location. Sometimes not. When he was in Rome in 1744, Casanova states that “as I was coming out of church after mass at San Carlo al Corso, … Continue reading →

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Redefining Beauty: Giustina Renier Michiel

Posted on September 14, 2019 by

How does one go about translating Shakespeare into other languages? His language is so particular to its time and place, and he coined so many new phrases and has such an immense vocabulary. Yet Giustina Renier Michiel was arguably the … Continue reading →

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Venice, My Muse: An Interview with Roger Feuerman

Posted on September 9, 2019 by

“Signorina Kathleen, It is I, Casanova, from here in the 18thcentury. And not First Spritz Is Free contributor Roger Feuerman. He claims he is too exhausted from laboring to finish his Venetian young adult fiction novel and penning a new … Continue reading →

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