The myth of Casanova has endured for almost 300 years
Born in 1725, he was abandoned by his actress mother and brought up by his maternal grandmother. He almost went into the priesthood but soon realised that his vocation lay in a different direction: the pursuit of pleasure and women.
Lara Corner discovers the myth behind the man and his love affair with Venice. She speaks to the Venetian writer, Barbara Zolezzi and the author Michelle Lovric in the Calle Malipiero outside the house in which Casanova was born.
Casanova starts on BBC Three on 13 March and is repeated on BBC One 04 April
