Renaissance signifies „rebirth“, the rebirth of man and the rebirth of two important ancient cultures, Greek and Roman. It was precisely the Florentines who started in the fourteenth century the journey of rediscovering the ancient cultures and trying to surpass them. This incredible cultural movement of the Renaissance transformed Florence by influencing all aspects of life: science, philosophy, art, religion, politics and literature. Florence was financially in a very good place which encouraged the government and the wealty families, like the Medici, to invest money in culture. The Medici were one of the main contributing patrons of art in Florence. Several of the greatest artist of the age studied or worked in Florence, including Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Raffaello Sanzio and Michelangelo Buonarroti. To the present day the best known monument of the Florence has remaind the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo, whose famous renaissance dome was built by Brunelleschi.