Italy. Italian art has always placed a strong emphasis on beauty and aesthetics, with artists striving to create works that are visually pleasing and harmonious. This can be seen in the use of idealized forms, balanced compositions, and rich colors. Religion has played a significant role in Italian art, with many works created for churches, cathedrals, and other religious institutions. Religious themes such as the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints are common in Italian art. Italian artists have been known for their innovation and experimentation, pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic techniques and exploring new mediums and styles. This can be seen in the development of linear perspective during the Renaissance, the use of chiaroscuro in Baroque art, and the exploration of abstraction in modern and contemporary Italian art. The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in humanism and individualism, with artists focusing on the human experience and the expression of individual emotions. This can be seen in the use of naturalistic poses, facial expressions, and gestures in Italian art. The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in humanism and individualism, with artists focusing on the human experience and the expression of individual emotions. This can be seen in the use of naturalistic poses, facial expressions, and gestures in Italian art. Italian art has also been characterized by regional diversity, with different cities and regions developing their own unique styles and traditions. For example, the art of Florence is known for its use of linear perspective and naturalistic forms, while the art of Venice is characterized by its use of rich colors and atmospheric effects. The very numerous Rock Drawings in Valcamonica go back to 8,000 BC, and there are rich remains of Etruscan art from thousands of tombs, as well as rich remains from the Greek colonies at Paestum, Agrigento and elsewhere. Ancient Rome finally emerged as the dominant Italian and European power. The Roman remains in Italy are of extraordinary richness, from the grand Imperial monuments of Rome itself to the survival of exceptionally preserved ordinary buildings in Pompeii and neighbouring sites. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, in the Middle Ages Italy, especially the north, remained an important centre, not only of the Carolingian art and Ottonian art of the Holy Roman Emperors, but for the Byzantine art of Ravenna and other sites. Italy was the main centre of artistic developments throughout the Renaissance, beginning with the Proto-Renaissance of Giotto and reaching a particular peak in the High Renaissance of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, whose works inspired the later phase of the Renaissance, known as Mannerism. Italy retained its artistic dominance into the 17th century with the Baroque, and into the 18th century with Neoclassicism. In this period, cultural tourism became a major prop to Italian economy. Both Baroque and Neoclassicism originated in Rome and spread to all Western art. Italy maintained a presence in the international art scene from the mid-19th century onwards, with movements such as the Macchiaioli, Futurism, Metaphysical, Novecento Italiano, Spatialism, Arte Povera, and Transavantgarde. Italian art has influenced several major movements throughout the centuries and has produced several great artists, including painters, architects and sculptors. Today, Italy has an important place in the international art scene, with several major art galleries, museums and exhibitions; major artistic centres in the country include Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Turin, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Lecce and other cities. Italy is home to 54 World Heritage Sites, the largest number of any country in the world.