You can describe a whole century, particularly the last one of the Republic, by analyzing the relationship between food and love. In this sense, how can we skip Giacomo Casanova? Not only because of his reputation as a consummate seducer and gourmand, but for his essays and meditations on both subjects, his intellectual and natural approach according to the way of seeing things on those days.

In fact he said “The chief business of my life was to cultivate whatever gave me pleasure to my senses”, a statement which the whole world would share……….. but he found a reason for it, deeply rooted in the history of his life. As soon as he was born, on April 2^nd 1725, his mother asked for a dish of prawns. This episode marked his life or justified his greediness and ,of course, prawns were one of Giacomo’s favourite fish dishes……..

Over the centuries Venice spoiled, at different levels, the steady population, developed a taste for luxury and for the pleasures of life. The economy was based on trade, but how it got started? In the early days, since this small town was built on marshes, flat and unhealthy, which kind of product could offer to the Mediterranean countries? Could a place like that have a future? Not at all, unless locals would bring the whole world to their own country, travel and negotiate with all sorts of people in order to obtain the best prices for the best goods.

So far nobody knew what Venice was, and it was very important to become respected and influential merchants. So the Venetians started an import-export business with the Greeks and the Arabs, who were already operating in the Mediterranean market. They managed to get amazing commercial privileges from the Byzantine Emperors, earn a lot of money and fame by supplying the Arabs with wood, metals and slaves. This happened from the IXth through the XIth century. Like any other merchant, Venetians were unscrupulous, self-confident, and Christians, despite the constant reproaches of the Pope!

To be continued………..

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