May 1st , 1515 Dear Juslyn, Hey sister! I am in Florence! It was Italys cultural center during this time.

Since this city-state is on the Arno River, its a very important place for trade and commerce. People in Florence were influenced by peoples thoughts from other places, and everything here is so creative. This city is very important to the Renaissance because of the greatest artists and thinkers are here and during this time, it was called the cradle of the Renaissance. I got to visit Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, Orsanmichele, and Palazzo Medici. The first interesting place I visited was Duomo di shaped roof. It stands up to 300 feet tall! I came here and architect named Filippo Brunelleschi had built the dome dome and leaned against each other so most of the This dome shaped roof had no interior support columns. associate with buildings. Besides constructing buildings, food or building materials to the workers. Santa Maria del Fiore, which was cathedral with a dome thought, how could it not collapse? I learned that a brilliant by having eight huge stone arches meet at the top of the weight would be put on the lantern (the top part of the dome). He had been Romes ancient ruins and used math that he also invented machines called hoists that would bring up

After being at the cathedral, I came to Leonardo da Vincis favorite church, the Orsanmichele. The amazing Leonardo was an artist, scientist, and an inventor. In his notebooks, there were many drawings of devices, the human body, buildings, and many others. I love his curiosity! Without them, we wouldnt have geometry, engineering, and many more. I learned that Leonardo was very important because of his amazing breakthroughs in science and mathematics. He also was able to invent machines called hoists that would bring up food or building materials to the workers. Lastly is Palazzo Medici, it is filled with works of art. Everything was commissioned by the Medici family. All of the paintings looked to realistic because painters use perspective, which showed depth on a flat surface. From this, I learned that science and mathematics were also included in painting in the Renaissance. It was used so scenes would appear like they would in reality. Science also helped with the materials painters used, such as oil paint. It advanced the way they can show details in paintings.

These places were so astonishing; how so many people had a lot of breakthroughs that changed history and advanced the way everyone thinks and paints. I wish you had come to see Florence with me. Love your sister,