(…) Born to actors in 1725, Casanova railed against his lowly roots. “To be an actor in the 18th century was little better than being a prostitute,” explained my guide, Rita Sartori, as we reached the spot where it all began. A plaque on Calle Malipiero, a typically narrow Venetian street of crumbling brickwork, marks Casanova’s birthplace. (…)