Vittorio Montemaggi

Vittorio Montemaggi is the academic director of Notre Dame London, responsible for leading the academic team, shaping the academic vision, and advancing the University’s mission of education and research in the UK. Vittorio oversees Notre Dame London’s academic programs, as well as its academic partnerships and collaborations with institutions in the UK.

In addition to his role at Notre Dame London, Vittorio serves as director of the Von Hügel Institute for Critical Catholic Inquiry of St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge. He previously served as a faculty member at Notre Dame from 2009 to 2017 and most recently as reader in religion, literature, and the arts at King’s College London.

Vittorio’s primary academic expertise is in the relationship between literature and theology, and in the significance of the arts for humanity’s exploration of divinity. His research focuses primarily on Dante and Primo Levi, and his comparative interests also entail exploration of works of authors as different as Saint Gregory the Great, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Saint Catherine of Siena, Shakespeare, Mozart and Roberto Benigni.

Vittorio grew up in Italy, and to this day its art and culture are primary points of reference and inspiration, especially as enshrined in Siena and its contrade. In his free time, Vittorio enjoys listening to classical music and spending time with family and friends. He and his wife enjoy traveling and exploring the English coast and countryside, especially in Norfolk and Suffolk.

A full list of Vittorio’s publications can be found here. His public engagement includes BBC Radio 4’s Dante 2021.