Revisit the Renaissance Era In Modern Tuscany

Regarded as the birthplace of Renaissance, Tuscany is a well-known hub for high culture. It is difficult to resist the urge to embark on a tour around this Italian region with a particular focus on attractions that exemplify the Renaissance influence, as there are just so many.

The region boasts of the most valuable art pieces housed in world-renowned museums, inspiring architectural wonders, stunning landscapes and one-of-a-kind Tuscan villas spread all over the area. Given all of this, it remains one of the most visited destinations in the world, with almost two million tourists visiting Florence, the region's capital, every year.

The Palazzo Pitti in Florence

As a cultural movement, the Renaissance was a true innovation. It signalled the end of one era and welcomed a new one, as evidenced in the region's art, architecture, literature and science. Countless historical attractions around the area transport tourists back to the critical point in history that ushered in the modern world - even many of the the existing Tuscan villas to rent are reminiscent of the classic design and architecture.

But if tourists are serious about understanding the Renaissance, one of the best stops to visit is the biggest museum complex in the region's capital city. Located in Florence, the original core of the Palazzo Pitti - the Pitti Palace - dates back to 1458. When the Medici family bought the residence in 1549, the palace continued to house an extensive collection of paintings, jewellery, and other artwork. Today, it is home to a number of museums and galleries. The Palatine Gallery alone (Palazzo Pitti's main gallery) houses more than 500 paintings from the Renaissance era, including works from Raphael.

The Pinacoteca Nazionale in Siena

This lovely region has been home to many influential figures in the arts and sciences that helped shape the Renaissance. Even small towns display amazing natural architectural beauty and Tuscan villas are a preferred means of accommodation for many tourists because of this authenticity. But when it comes to visual art, another must-visit stop for a major Renaissance experience is the national museum in Siena. The Pinacoteca Nazionale houses art from the late medieval period, as well as an extensive collection of Renaissance paintings by Italian artists. The location of the building is also interesting: the museum is housed across two palaces within the city's centre. The Brigidi Palace was built in the 14th century, while the Buonsignori Palace was built in the 15th century but has a 19th-century facade. The Pinacoteca Nazionale also has one of the largest collections of Sienese paintings in the world, which date back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Pazzi Chapel in Florence

The Renaissance movement spread widely, not only through art and literature but also through architecture - it introduced similar principles of rebirth into the design of the buildings. Some of the common characteristics of Renaissance architecture, which today are still evident in modern Tuscan villas and houses, are spaciousness and a sense of light. One of the earliest (and arguably one of the best) examples of Renaissance architecture is the Pazzi Chapel, located in Florence. A cloister of the Basilica di Santa Croce, construction on the Pazzi Chapel began in 1441 but wasn't completed until the 1460s. Today the interior of the chapel is still magnificent and the entire structure is considered a Renaissance masterpiece. Its arches, pilasters and columns display common Renaissance characteristics, as do the roundels in between the pilasters.

Jonathan Magoni is Senior Manager of Cottages to Castles, a family owned company specialising in high quality holiday villas, apartments and cottages in Italy. For spectacular Tuscan villas or accommodation in the Italian lakes, ski resorts or city centres, we offer only the very best. Discover Italy at your own pace and without time restrictions in our hand picked villas and cottages.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.