5 Cities to VisitBy: Michelle Manganiello

Venice, Rome, Florence, London and Paris

Venice, Italy

Some of the places you need to see in Venice are St. Marks Square, St. Marks Basilica, and the Bridge of Sighs. St. Marks Square is a plaza that is a testament to the power and wealth of the Venetian Empire. St. Marks Basilica is the most famous of all churches in Venice. The Bridge of Sighs is a legendary bridge that connects the palace of the Doges with prison cells across the Rio di Palazzo. It is one of the most famous sights in Venice. Venice was important during the renaissance because of it's geographical location that was great for trade with the East. They carried goods by ships between Empires, and in result, Merchants became very rich.

Rome, Italy

Some of the must see places in Rome are: the Colosseum, Castel Sant Angelo, and the Vatican Museum. The Colosseum is one of the 7 wonders of the world. It was used as a roman amphitheatre. Castel Sant Angelo was built as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian. The pope then used it as a residence, a secure fortress, and a high security prison. The Vatican museum contains historical works from the historical Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries. It contains some of the most important masterpieces from the Renaissance world. Rome was important during the Renaissance because it was the central city of the Papal states. The Papal states played an important role in the development of city-states as independent governments. Rome was the center for scholars and artists, and Pope Nicholas V promoted learning and the arts. It was the artistic center of the city states.

Florence, Italy

Three must see places in Florence are the Il Duomo, The Baptistery, and Campanile. Il Duomo is a cathedral with gothic architecture that began in 1296. It is Brunelleschi's masterpiece. The Baptistery is from the 11th century, made by John the Baptist. Mosaics and marble pavement of the zodiac are inside. The Campanile is a bell tower designed by Giotto. If you climb to the top you can get great views of the Cathedral and the city of Florence. The importance of Florence during the renaissance is that it was the center of banking and of the trade of woolen cloth. During the Renaissance, the population was separated into two different guilds: wealthy men and less important craftsman and businessmen. Many families fought for control of the Florence.

London, England

Three must see places in London are: The British Museum, Tate Modern, and National Gallery. The British Museum exhibits works of a man from prehistoric times to modern times around the world. Highlights of the museum are the Rosetta Stone, and mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. The Tate Modern is a museum of modern and contemporary art. Inside the museum are temporary exhibitions by top artists such as Damien Hirst and Gauguin. The National Gallery is filled with Western European paintings from the 13th century to the 19th centuries. It is an iconic gallery with paintings from Van Gogh, da Vinci, and Botticelli. During the Renaissance, literature was flourishing. Shakespeare was writing his plays. Sailing was a technological innovation, and improved mats and charts were constructed.

Paris, France

Three must see places in Paris are: the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and Palace of Versailles. The Eiffel Tower is a tower named after the french engineer, Gustave Eiffel. It was erected in 1889 to the World's first fair. It is a global cultural icon of France. The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, and a historic monument. It began as a fortress built in the late 12th century by Phillip ll. The Palace of Versailles is a royal chateau (manor house). It was once built in a country village, but it has since been transformed into a wealthy suburb of Paris. It was the center of political power in 1682. The importance of this city during the Renaissance is that it had explorers from the New World (Varrazzano, and Jacques Cartier). Architecture, printing, sculpture, and music were all advanced. The reign of Frances I and his son Henry ll were considered the apex of the French Renaissance.