Casanova’s myth has survived for 2 centuries, but today the image of Italian men is linked to exotic bunga-bunga parties. It’s hard to believe the sexual image of Italians is so poor, but we must follow reported data and witnesses.

Foreigners’ bad opinions are supported by Italian women’s complaints, who seem not to esteem very much love-abilities of their countrymen. 20, 30, 40 even 50-year-old women blame men’s scanty sense of responsibility, and their incapacity of living a relationship apart from sexual performances, with or without défaillances.

It would be really easy and unfair to blame Berlusconi for the fall of this myth, even though he stuffed TV with silicone breasts. But we can easily state that his scandals are the worst expression of Italian males’ sexual images and, unfortunately, it seems to prevail against the old-fashioned model - the passionate, elegant, romantic image of Giacomo Casanova.

A vulgar image prevails instead, although someone has tried to assure us of the alleged “elegance” of Berlusconi’s parties. Lots of men seem to admire him, even those blaming him in public and then winking at him.

Worse luck, these sexual fantasies involve underage girls. Instead of feeling ashamed for seducing really young ladies, middle-aged men are proud of it. According to Carla, 24-year-old, “it is usual to see 50-year-old men making themselves ridiculous by dancing breathless in a disco to draw attention to themselves”. Many a times girls deem them to be stupid, and look at them disgusted, but sometimes wealthy men can be successful.

Valeria, 30-year-old, tells that “sometime persons of seventy ask you if you want a ride on their scooter, smiling at you – with their new denture, of course – with a come-on look”. It is better not to report how women answer.

Interviews show that Italian men draw their inspiration from Casanova – educated suitor who knew how to leave the stage stylishly, always chivalrous towards all women (not only towards beautiful ladies) -no longer. They behave like Don Giovanni, the literary character seducing young ladies only to show his own virility.

We do hope that’s not true. It would be a serious loss. Because of propriety towards men, we must report that several women complaining about their partners, husbands, or lovers, at the end of the day are grateful, because “when all is said and done, he is better than others”.