Experience Italian History

with live-taught seminars led by Venice-based Historian, Dr. Susan Steer

Get to Know Dr. Susan Steer

Context Expert Since 2010 | Based in Venice Italy

Dr. Steer has over ten years of experience teaching the History of Art for prestigious university programs in the UK and Italy. After graduating in the History of Art and Italian in 1998, she took an M.A. concentrating on art and architecture in Venice, and in 2004 she completed her specialization with a Ph.D. on Venetian Renaissance altarpieces.

As a post-doctoral researcher with the University of Glasgow and London's National Gallery, she worked as a researcher and editor on the National Inventory of European Painting, the on-line catalog of European paintings in British museums. Susan has also contributed articles to the Burlington Magazine and Artibus et Historiae. Susan met her Venetian husband Paolo in 1997; they have a young son and divide their time between homes in Italy and the UK.

Reviews from Learners Like You:

Learn about some of Venice's most beautiful churches, piazzas and public gardens located in this culturally diverse neighbourhood, often overlooked by tourists. Dr. Steer's presentations are always interesting, informative and fun!

This seminar also includes some very practical tips for travellers. Following the lecture, you will receive an excellent resource sheet containing useful references, contact information and suggested readings. Whether you are planning your first trip to Venice or a return visit, you will find this program very enjoyable and worthwhile!

Andy W

A very interesting presentation providing a brief overview of the history of the Venice in Peril Fund, highlighting the environmental risks which threaten the art and buildings in Venice, and looking at a few of the restoration and conservation projects Venice in Peril has undertaken.

I especially enjoyed the behind the scenes look at some of the restoration projects, gaining a better understanding of the research, consultation and planning that goes into any project before the actual painstaking restoration work begins. I now have another perspective with which to look at the beautiful art and architecture in Venice.

Mary S.

Susan is probably the most expert guide we have had in our many years of traveling. She had a remarkable depth of information about virtually anything we asked her having to do with Venetian art, architecture, history and related topics.

The tour was perfect for our interests, her adaptations were spot on and despite the acqua alta and rain, we had a marvelous tour in every way. Although I myself am a guide in a museum in Boston, I have no suggestions for how this tour could be improved - absolutely perfect as is.

Dorothy A.

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