Piombi prison - Casanova's cell 01
Casanova was imprisoned at Piombi following his arrest in 1755, when he was accused of being a Freemason, spreading antireligious propaganda and dabbling in magic. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, but fifteen months later Casanova made a daring escape and remains the only known prisoner to have done so. Also called ìLeadsî because of the lead (piombo) covering on the roof immediately above the prison, these six or seven cells were formed of wooden partitions nailed with sheets of iron and were located beneath the Dogeís Palace. Although unpleasant, conditions in Piombi were better than those in the pozzi (the wells) on the ground floor of the Dogeís Palace.
