Page 63 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

the hist or y of it al y  61

Where to See Renaissance Italy
Many cities were flourishing centres of the arts
in the 15th century. None can rival Florence
(pp274–317) with its great palazzi and the Uffizi
gallery (pp290–93), but Venice (pp88–141), Urbino
(pp374–5) and Mantua (p211) all preserve great
treasures. In Rome, do not miss the Vatican’s
Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms (pp428–31).

The Battle of Pavia (1525)
The French King Francis I was captured at this battle
against the army of the Habsburg Emperor Charles V,
who won control of Italy.
The Procession of the Magi
Benozzo Gozzoli’s fresco (1459) in the Palazzo
Medici-Riccardi, Florence, depicts members of the
Medici family and other contemporary notables. The Spedale degli Innocenti by Brunelleschi in
Florence (p281) shows the Classical symmetry
It contains many references to a great church and restraint of Renaissance architecture.
council held in Florence in 1439.

Humanism
Carpaccio’s painting
of St Augustine is
thought to show
Cardinal Bessarion
(c.1395–1472), one
of the scholars who
revived interest in
Classical philosophy,
especially Plato.

Lorenzo de’ Medici (the
Magnificent) was depicted
as one of the three kings
travelling to Bethlehem.
Pope Julius II
During his reign (1503–13),
the worldly Julius made the
papacy a major power in
European politics. Raphael’s
portrait shows him as a
shrewd old statesman.

1487 Birth of Titian 1503 Giuliano della Niccolò
1494 Italy Rovere elected Pope Machiavelli
1483 Sixtus IV invaded by Julius II; he proves the
consecrates Charles VIII most powerful of the 1527 Rome sacked
Sistine Chapel of France Renaissance popes by Imperial troops
1475 1500 1525
1475 Birth of 1512 Michelangelo 1525 Francis I of
Michelangelo Raphael completes Sistine France captured at
1483 Birth of Raphael Chapel ceiling Battle of Pavia
1532 Machiavelli’s book
1498 Savonarola executed; Machiavelli 1513 Giovanni de’ Medici The Prince is published,
secretary to ruling Council in Florence crowned Pope Leo X five years after his death

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