The Italian Renaissance was the earliest materialization of the continental European Renaissance. The European Renaissance was a time period with many cultural changes and accomplishments, beginning in Italy from the 1300's to the 1500's. The era is best known for the renewed interest in the culture of classical olden times after the Dark Ages. This renaissance began in Tuscany, which is in central Italy. These changes in society mostly affected the wealthy, while the majority of the population's lives did not change much from the Middle Ages. Some major characteristics of the Italian Renaissance, in terms of architecture, are the combination of spaciousness, clarity, and natural sources of light. This is a response to the darkness and spirituality of the Middle ages; the space, light, and clarity reflect the philosophy of intellectual clarity and illumination. Italian architects preferred clearly defined forms and structural members expressing their function clearly, another sign of the intellectual aspect of the Renaissance.
The Italian Renaissance brought arches, vaults, columns, pilasters, pediments, entablatures, and domes to the architecture, but they were adapted with new, original combinations. Numerous palaces and churches were built in Rome during the time, which gave the city architectural superiority. Many legendary architects and artists were big contributors to this era, such as: Brunelleschi, Raphael, Peruzzi, Vignola, Sangallo, and Michelangelo. The architects trained as humanists which helped their social standing change from skilled laborers to artists; the hope was to create structures that appeal to both emotion and reason.
Italian Renaissance style structures have several distinctive features and Tuscany Luxury Builders understands these, and the magnitude of cultural and historical impact on architectural periods. The impact of human history on the evolution of architecture is immense; this is why Tuscany Luxury Builders works with a select group of architects with unique backgrounds and specialties to create truly unparalleled results.