As one of the key art centres of Europe, Venice has always been host to all the greatest artists and musicians, among which the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who first arrived in the city at the age of 15 during the Carnival of 1771, accompanied by his father Leopold and his sister. A child-genius without any doubt, he was touring Italy displaying his wonderful musical talents in front of the major European aristocracies.
They stayed at the Ca’Falletti, the palace on your right, which was chosen for its promixity to the San Benedetto Theatre, which is today the Fenice Theatre. Before their stay, this house had belonged to a man called Conte Falletti, who had turned it into a brothel, where he also taught noblemen to become swindlers. When this scandal was discovered by Venice’s authorities, Falletti was sentenced to death for libertinism and the house re-established its ancient respectability. There are many who say Mozart took inspiration from this Count Falletti to create his Don Juan, the epytomy of libertinism and disrespect for authority.
