The Brancacci Chapel is a magnificent place to understand Renaissance painting, where Michelangelo himself studied. Revolutionary artist Masaccio created early Renaissance art here, sharing work with Masolino, whose International/Gothic style provides immediate juxtaposition. The frescoes, focusing on St. Peter's life, include "The Tribute Money." Located in Florence's Oltrarno, it's a must-see if open.

Just down the street from the Spanish Steps is this fabulous doorway of the Palazzo Zuccari. Art historians refer to the period immediately after the High Renaissance as the Mannerist period (1520-1600). The artwork of this period is often referred to as surprising, peculiar, or unexpected, and the doorway certainly embodies that. Today the building houses a library for art historians.