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1. 5 Cities to Visit
By: Michelle Manganiello
Venice, Rome, Florence, London and Paris

2. Venice, Italy

3. 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.

5. Rome, Italy

6. 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.

7. Florence, Italy

8. 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.

10. London, England

11. 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.

13. Paris, France

14. 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.