Voyaging Along Venice’s Riviera del Brenta Waterway with Dr. Susan Steer

Voyaging Along Venice’s Riviera del Brenta Waterway with Dr. Susan Steer

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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

The Brenta waterway is little-known to the thousands of international visitors who now pour into Venice daily, but it was once the major access route for people and goods coming from mainland Italy into the island metropolis. Passing through Venice’s rural hinterland, picturesque villages, and grand historic villas en route towards Padua, we will take in daily life past and present, along one of Italy’s most scenic and journeys.
Connecting Venice and Padua, the Brenta passes charming towns, like Oriago, mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy, and Dolo, depicted by Canaletto. We will take in the history of the waterway, and the traditions and customs such as regattas and flower festivals and also touch on the economy of the area, from the historic brick factories which built Venice, through nineteenth-century industrialization, to the modern shoe factories which produce stylish footwear for the Italian and European markets. We will also touch on the story of the landscape and its agriculture, which historically kept populous Venice fed and still supplies vibrant farmers’ markets today.
The route is famously lined with sumptuous country houses built by the Venetian aristocracy as summer retreats, like Palladio’s iconic Villa Foscari at Malcontenta. The grandiose Villa Pisani at Stra was Napoleon’s residence as he conquered Venice and her territories and we will discuss the impacts of his reign.
Led by an expert on the history of Venetian art and long-time resident of the Riviera del Brenta, Dr. Susan Steer, this interactive seminar will be a virtual journey along Venice’s historic waterway towards Padua. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will discover life and culture beyond the celebrated monuments of Venice.

Susan Steer PhD is an art historian specializing in Medieval and Renaissance Venice. Susan has an extensive teaching background, lecturing on Italian art for universities in the UK and in Italy. She has also worked as a paintings researcher at museums in the UK, and has published on Italian Renaissance and Baroque art in leading specialist journals. She has lived in Venice for over 20 years.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
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(17)
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S
S.M. (Brooklyn, US)
A lovely afternoon River Cruise

Dr Steer always manages to make you feel as if you are sitting right next to her as she describes her surroundings. And this one felt so relaxing as we made our way down the Riviera del Brenta. So wonderful

G
Gay Lutton (Jersey City, US)
D

Delightful 😊

C
Cynthia Futter (Santa Monica, US)
An absolutely charming experience!

This tour was absolutely charming. I have attended several with Dr. Steer and they are always informative and interesting. This one was particularly so, partially because I had not been to these places, but especially because of the personal touches that were added since this is an area in which Dr. Steer lives. The more personal stories of the farm and the cooking and the tractor rides made this absolutely wonderful.

M
Mary S (Vancouver, CA)

A truly delightful, informative and interesting glimpse into the history, culture and contemporary life along the canal linking Venice and Padua.

S
Sally Clark (Daphne, US)
Molto contento!

Thanks to Prof. Steer, I enjoyed 90 minutes of armchair travel yesterday morning. I love Venice & the Veneto, & between injuries & Covid couldn't return to Italy since summer, 2019. This excursion was the next best thing to being there. I am so grateful to Dr. Steer & Context Travel for offering these illuminating, richly illustrated, lectures. Grazie mille!

123
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Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
100%
(17)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
S.M. (Brooklyn, US)
A lovely afternoon River Cruise

Dr Steer always manages to make you feel as if you are sitting right next to her as she describes her surroundings. And this one felt so relaxing as we made our way down the Riviera del Brenta. So wonderful

G
Gay Lutton (Jersey City, US)
D

Delightful 😊

C
Cynthia Futter (Santa Monica, US)
An absolutely charming experience!

This tour was absolutely charming. I have attended several with Dr. Steer and they are always informative and interesting. This one was particularly so, partially because I had not been to these places, but especially because of the personal touches that were added since this is an area in which Dr. Steer lives. The more personal stories of the farm and the cooking and the tractor rides made this absolutely wonderful.

M
Mary S (Vancouver, CA)

A truly delightful, informative and interesting glimpse into the history, culture and contemporary life along the canal linking Venice and Padua.

S
Sally Clark (Daphne, US)
Molto contento!

Thanks to Prof. Steer, I enjoyed 90 minutes of armchair travel yesterday morning. I love Venice & the Veneto, & between injuries & Covid couldn't return to Italy since summer, 2019. This excursion was the next best thing to being there. I am so grateful to Dr. Steer & Context Travel for offering these illuminating, richly illustrated, lectures. Grazie mille!

123