Explain with examples the ways in which the Renaissance spirit of a rediscovery of the classics and the new Humanist ways of thinking were expressed in the design and content of the Italian Renaissance garden.

The Renaissance was an incredible time of rediscovery, rebirth, and reevaluation about man's relationship with god and with the earthly world. The areas of life that were most affected by this transformation were the arts, painting, sculpture, literature, and of course, gardens. The rediscovery of ancient Roman texts, as well as the more modern mathematic advances in the art world, which led to a revolutionary take on perspective, influenced all aspects of garden design. 

Because of newly introduced humanist theories, the structure of the garden began to revolve less around the gods or nature, and more around the people enjoying them. Villas became the center piece for the garden, which would be built around this structure in a way that would maximize enjoyment of the landscape.

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Often built on hills, around natural springs, these gardens were used as an accessory to the villa, to create a certain feeling for the person walking through the garden before reaching the main destination, the villa. The villa would often be built on the top of the hill, with the garden descending downward so that the owner of the villa could look onto it and be able to see the entire landscape.

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Gardens built during the Renaissance were grand, using ornate fountains, lots of running water, and exotic plants. Because of the recent importance and use of mathematics within art, the architecture of gardens became very geometric, with symmetry and axial unity. New concepts of art and perspective were introduced during the Renaissance, which influenced the fluidity of a garden, and made the architecture of the garden along with the villa a more holistic plan. These gardens were all about aesthetics, and all to be treasured by the people. The grandness of the garden was used to amuse and impress visitors. The Renaissance was a time to delight in and appreciate art and beauty, and gardens were certainly no exception. 

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