The Roman Renaissance

Though the Italian Renaissance began in Florence, it was Rome that quickly became the centre of art in the western world during the early sixteenth century. The reason for this was simple — the most powerful person in the country, maybe even in the world resided in Rome. That person was of course the Pope, and many of the country’s top artists were dependent on papal projects to earn their daily bread.

For example, though he was a Florentine, Michelangelo did some of his most impressive and influential work in Rome. His most famous paintings, including the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, can be found in Rome. He also produced his sculpture la Pieta in 1499, and it is currently on display in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Eternal City. This area has long been popular with tourists who rent out Rome holiday and vacation rentals .

Rome also became a centre for architecture, as the greatest builders of the period came to the city to erect and rebuild some of the world’s most famous structures. Of course, ancient Rome had given rise to the Collosseum, the Pantheon and the Forum. But during the Renaissance, the leaders of Italy, namely the Pope, decided that many of its greatest and most historically significant structures needed to be refurbished or entirely rebuilt.

Probably the most important project was the rebuilding of Saint Peter’s Basilica, which is currently the largest Christian church in the world. Under Pope Leo X, the church, which had been left derelict for decades, was completely demolished and a new one was built on the same site.

It is important to note that before this time Rome was seen as a religious city. But when the Pope himself embraced the art of the Renaissance, the city loosened up a bit and began to take delight in more secular forms of entertainment. For example, great feasts, horse races and even saturnalias returned to Rome during this period.

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