The Renaissance art in Italy

What Exactly Was the Renaissance Period?

The Renaissance was an amazing period of great art and architecture, inventions, and technologies. It was also during the Renaissance that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith existed, originally founded as the Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition. It was a time of witch trials, from about 1400 until 1560. People were burned for being heretics, such as Giordano Bruno at Campo de' Fiori. The pyre was then lit, and the flames leaped up to consume the heretic.

The Renaissance was also the period when Jews were kicked away and segregated from Spain and most parts of Italy, or were forced to live in ghettos. During that time lived one of the most important figures of the Renaissance, Lorenzo il Magnifico, who prepared his son Giovanni, and influenced his appointment as cardinal when he was only 14 years old. The Renaissance also gave extraordinary importance to astrology, and people spent huge amounts of money to explain the movements of the Earth. Galileo, for instance, not only improved the design of the microscope, but was also involved in astrology and created horoscopes for patrons and students. So, we are now aware these were the main concerns during the Renaissance.

As far as the best Renaissance buildings in Rome, we have the following:

1) Palazzo Venezia

The Palazzo Venezia, originally called Palazzo Barbo, is a large early Renaissance building formally called the Palace of Saint Mark, located next to the Capitoline Hill. Today it is the property of the Italian Republic and houses the Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia.

From its balcony, on December 11, 1941, at 2:45 PM,Mussolini announced to the crowd in Piazza Venezia that Italy was joining Germany and Japan in declaring war on the United States of America.

It is an exceptional building featuring a rich collection of the greatest artists of Renaissance and Baroque art.

2) The Church of San Pietro in Montorio

The original structure of this church is from the Middle Ages, around the 9th century. Later on, it was redesigned by Baccio Pontelli, and consecrated by the Borgia pope, Alexander VI. It has a very simple and elegant Renaissance façade. The artistic works that you will admire inside are frescoes by Giorgio Vasari, paintings from Daniele daVolterra, and one of the most famous works by Sebastiano del Piombo.

Here you can also admire the Tempietto from Bramante, one of the most stunning architectural masterpieces of the High Renaissance in Rome.

3) Palazzo Capranica

This beautiful building is near the Colonna district. Its style is very similar to the Capitoline Museum. On top of its structure, we can see it was dedicated by Cardinal Domenico Capranica. In 1451 it was established as an ecclesiastical college.

It is another great example of amazing marble floors. On the second floor, it has seven or eight windows that have been walled up. You will find this impressive building at Via del Collegio Capranica, 36-43, Piazza Capranica, 101.

4) Villa Farnesina

A captivating style of architecture where you can find works by some of the greatest Renaissance artists. From Raphael,we have his most evocative and stunning frescoes, such as The Wedding of Love and Psyche and the fresco depicting the triumph of the nymph Galatea.

This loggia was often used to hold festivities for theatricalshows organized directly by the wealthy banker Agostino Chigi.

This famous villa was built between 1505 and 1520, and it was designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi, a renowned Renaissance architect.

Today, as you walk through the Trastevere neighborhood in search of a good restaurant, you can stop by and enjoy the spectacular frescoed ceiling by some of the great masters of the 16th century.

5) Palazzo dei Penitenzieri

This building is located near St. Peter’s Basilica, and it was commissioned by Cardinal Domenico Della Rovere, whoused it as his private residence. He gave the job to Baccio Pontelli, who was also the architect of the Sistine Chapel.

The Palazzo dei Penitenzieri had as a special guest the French emperor Charles VIII when he came to Rome on his trip in 1495. Today the palace is owned by the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, which has itsofficial headquarters there.

Cardinal Della Rovere was a relative of Pope Sixtus IV, from which the name of the Sistine Chapel comes. In the Sistine Chapel, Pope Sixtus commissioned several frescoes painted by Botticelli and Perugino between 1480 and 1482.

6) Palazzo della Cancelleria

If you walk through the historic center of Rome near Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona, you will find this building, one of the most impressive Renaissance buildings in Rome. It was commissioned by Cardinal Raffaele Riario, who was the nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, one of the most important popesof the Renaissance, the same one who built the ancient bridge called Ponte Sisto in his name. According to some historians, this building was won by the Riario Cardinal while gambling. He then started building the palace during the papacy of Julius II. To make room for this beautiful,elegant building, they had to destroy the ancient Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso.