Renaissance

The intellectual and cultural openness that followed the emergence of early capitalism in 14th-century Italy earned Florence its reputation as the birthplace of the Renaissance. As a city of art and a sacred land of culture, it gave rise to many legendary pioneers. Some became famous around the world for their exquisite paintings, some laid the foundations of new literary traditions with works in which every word was a gem, some influenced the world with their pioneering philosophical ideas, and others ushered in a new age with astonishing scientific discoveries. And so began the revival of classical culture, with humanism paving the way as the natural sciences, literature, and the arts surged forward.