Renaissance Architecture
At the end of the fourteenth century, the impressiveness of gothic architecture began to wear off. Europe was coming out of the middle ages, and into the Renaissance. The architects of the time changed their architecture to fit the era. They revived many of the ideas from classical (Greek and Roman) architecture. They did, however, use materials not associated with Greek and Roman architecture such as brick, and the color red became common. Artists and architects worked together much more, and many renaissance buildings have statues, murals, and much more artwork to go with them.

Renaissance architecture began in Florence, Italy in the early fifteenth century. Italy had never really used gothic architecture, so when gothic became less popular, Italy had something different for the people to look to. The style spread to the area around Florence, encompassing Rome and Milan. Then it somehow got up to the Netherlands, and spread to the rest of Europe from there. Renaissance architecture was somewhat different in the rest of Europe than in Italy, but the basic principals were the same. Renaissance architecture did not get to France until nearly 125 years after it began in Florence.

A common feature of renaissance architecture was the dome. Almost all renaissance cathedrals had domes. Many domes had paintings or decorations on the ceilings. French renaissance architecture had outer walls, and towers, and the domes were usually only on the inside of a building. Some good examples of renaissance architecture with domes are the Duomo of Florence, and St. Peter's cathedral in Rome. Famous architects and artists such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo Di Vinci, and Filippo Brunelleschi were shapers of renaissance architecture.

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