When I think of culture the first three things that come to mind are art, food, and symbols. The formal definition of culture is the shared products of human groups. Italy is one of the most rich and diverse cultures of the world. Italy is a land of art which is one of yhe main reasons it is rich in culture. It also over the years has developed some of the most popular foods all over the world. Throughout Italy there are various symbols dating back to the beginning of Italy's existence twelve thousand years ago.
             Italians believe a country that does not appreciate art is a country with no soul. This clearly shows the impact that art has had on Italian culture. During Italy's twelve thousand years many of the most famous artists from sculptors to painters to musicians to architects have come from Italy. Think for a minute what modern art or any art since the fifteenth or sixteenth centuries would be like without the Renaissance. Renaissance Art was born in Florence, Italy and spread throughout all of Italy and Europe. Italy has been the home to two of the most famous painters Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci. Michelangelo was not only a painter but also a sculptor and an architect. Italy holds the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Cathedral, and the David; these are if not the three most famous pieces of art they are at the top. Italy also has a strong musical influence on its culture. The opera and ballet were both founded in Italy as well as many musical instruments including the violin, piano, and cello. An Italian monk, Guido D'Arezzo, invented a way to write music on paper. Architecture is another part of Italian art, there are many famous churches and other various buildings including the Coliseum, the Forum, and the Pantheon that architects today are still trying to figure out how they were built. Palladio, one of Italy's most famous architects, was loved my Thomas Jefferson and you can see his style in Monticello...