by InTrieste
A new exhibition exploring Giacomo Casanova’s time in Trieste has opened at the Museo Petrarchesco Piccolomineo, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Venetian writer’s birth. Titled “In viaggio con Casanova. L’approdo a Trieste” (“Traveling with Casanova: Arrival in Trieste”), the show was curated by Alessandra Sirugo and will remain on view until January 10, 2026.
Organized by the City of Trieste’s Department of Education and Family Policies, the exhibition revisits the period between November 1772 and September 1774, when Casanova lived in the city after years of travel across Europe. Known more for his adventurous exploits than his literary achievements, Casanova’s legacy as a writer and observer of his times is central to this exhibition.
Visitors to the museum, located on Via Madonna del Mare 13, can view rare first editions from the Biblioteca Civica “Attilio Hortis,” alongside prints and publications that reflect the theatrical and literary culture of the 18th century. Among the highlights are eleven works authored by Casanova and several articles on international politics published in the Osservatore triestino during his stay.
The exhibit stems from Sirugo’s extensive archival work, including a full inventory of the Hortis Library’s Casanova holdings. Her curatorial choices offer a portrait of Casanova not only as a traveler and libertine, but as a sharp political thinker and gifted storyteller whose influence reached far beyond Venice.
Admission to the exhibition is free. Opening hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. The museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
The exhibition is part of a broader citywide program marking the tricentennial of Casanova’s birth in 1725.
