Discover the fascinating world of the Renaissance through the eyes of a passionate explorer of its art, architecture, and history. Journey through remarkable destinations, uncover the stories behind their masterpieces, and gain the knowledge and inspiration to create your own Renaissance Blueprint.
Begin Your Journey
Planning a visit to an Italian city filled with extraordinary Renaissance art and wondering where to begin? Looking for a way to appreciate great masterpieces without feeling overwhelmed? Want to better understand the artists, patrons, and ideas that shaped one of history's most remarkable periods? Or perhaps you're searching for books and resources to deepen your knowledge long after your trip has ended?
The Renaissance Blueprint is designed to guide you every step of the way. Use it to prepare for your travels, discover the stories behind the works you'll encounter, and continue your journey of exploration long after you leave the museum or historic site. Whether you're taking your first steps into the Renaissance or building on an existing passion, you'll find practical guidance, thoughtful insights, and carefully curated resources to help you experience this extraordinary world with greater confidence and understanding.
“I am at the Uffizi Museum, what should I go see?”
The First Blueprint
My daughter Emma called me from Florence. “I am at the Uffizi Museum, what should I go see?” Happy to hear that her travels were taking her to a significant cultural landmark and repository of some of the most significant works of art in the world, I guided her with some simple tips. Not wanting to overwhelm her with too many recommendations, I suggested some key paintings for her to seek out along with some of the key historical facts. My objective was to make sure that her visit was memorable and that she would appreciate the significance of what she was exploring.
This website seeks to achieve that same end - allow readers who are not art historians to make the most of their visits to museums and important sites located in Italian cities often mentioned in Renaissance history. The art and architecture created during this period still resonates and amazes today. The artists of this period have stories that are as colourful as their works of art are spectacular. Hopefully, readers will find in the suggestions and tips presented here a means to enjoy them and to explore their rich and fascinating histories further.