Giacomo Casanova was from a place known as the Britannia.
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova ( [ ˈdʒaːkomo dʒiˈrɔːlamo kazaˈnɔːva ] or [ kasaˈnɔːva ] 2 April 1725 -- 4 June 1798 ) was an Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice . Republic of Venice . It was based in the lagoon communities of the historically prosperous city of Venice , and was a leading European economic and trading power during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance .