Renaissance Without the Crowds

Go in March or April for the best combo of daylight, temperatures, and lack of overcrowding. Keep Easter Sunday and Monday as well as May 1 in mind as good weather can make weekends busy around those holidays.
Be aware that referring to the Renaissance (a French word) as the Rinascimente will earn you bonus points with your Italian hosts.
Some cities to consider.
Ferrara is a splendid example of Renaissance urban planning with the Erculean Addition. There's the Estense Castle, Palazzo dei Diamanti, the Duomo, the frescoes of Palazzo Schifanoia, and the intact Renaissance walls. Not far away is:
Mantua is a Renaissance masterpiece of art: A city of water transformed into a refined cultural center. There's the Palazzo Ducale (with Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi) and Palazzo Te.
Urbino is a palace in the guise of a city: An intact hilltop village that seems to have stood still in time. There's the Palazzo Ducale (home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche) and Raphael's birthplace.
Pienza The first example of humanist urban planning, commissioned by Pope Pius II. There's the Piazza Pio II, the Duomo, and Palazzo Piccolomini.

Thank you. That gives me some good ideas.

All excellent suggestions above but f you want some further afield suggestions.

If you're going as far as Urbino you might look into Ascoli Piceno - described as little Rome and made entirely of travertine. Full disclosure I haven't been yet but it is very much on my list.

Brescia is a mix of styles from all eras including a 14th century castle but has amazing Roman ruins and in the museum - which is interesting on its own - in situations Roman mosaics in the basement since it is built over the old Roman baths. Brescia is on the Milan>Venice fast train and easy to access in the north.

Both places are guaranteed tourist free.

Sounds amazing, have a great trip,
=Tod

Don't entirely discount the idea of Venice in January. When I went in late January 2024, there were no crowds. The serpentine red velvet rope line leading to the ticket counter at St Marks Basilica was entirely empty. In fact, having seen Venice once in high season and once in low season, I will only go back in winter!

From November to March mobs are not too bad. Except for Venice around Carnival, so basically the 4 weekends preceding Ash Wednesday.

Just avoid Italy from Palm Sunday (whenever that falls) to All Saints' day (Nov. 1), and you will see few crowds. But especially avoid from Jun through September because besides the crowds you also get Florida type sultry weather. It's not even July and temperatures this week in Italy are around 105 F and muggy too.

Depends what you mean by Renaissance art, which isn’t necessarily the same thing as Italian art. The Renaissance never really reached Naples so you won’t find much of that there. Actually some of the best Renaissance art (other than architecture which can’t be moved) can be found in the major museums of London, Paris and New York. There’s the northern Renaissance, Flemish paintings, Holbein, Durer and the like, for which Belgium, some places in Germany, and again London are best.

Perfectly possible to go to Florence or Venice in November, early December, March, and early April, and see great Renaissance art in the literally dozens of places (usually churches) that are not those most famous places people crowd to.

Where you stay matters, too --- be farther from the busiest areas. Florence and Venice are very walkable and have public transportation that is actually fun to use. I figure I've spent more than 12 weeks total in Florence and Venice (and am returning to Venice this year for another 2 weeks) and I am not even close to seeing all the art I want to see. Without crowds. If you do need to go see the David or Botticelli's Birth of Venus, there are additional strategies, such as early mornings and late evenings.

Upvoting Mike's recommendation of Mantua. We were there in April and it was lovely - so much to see, not crowded, and we loved, loved, loved their pumpkin ravioli. The Mantuans are quite proud that their recipe is unique and dates back to the renaissance. What makes it special is they add crushed amaretti cookies to the pumpkin filling which adds a nice sweet/savory flavor. It's now one of my five top meals I've had in Europe!

Thank you all for your suggestions. Yes, I am also fond of northern Renaissance art. I have been to the Netherlands and Belgium several times. This question was about Italy. :) After watching quite a few art history webinars, I have been thinking we should try to see something of Italy, despite the press of other people who want to do the same thing as me.

Seconding the recommendation for Ascoli. A gorgeous ensemble (?) of architecture--just one of so many lovely towns in Le Marche that get very few tourists.......

We took a wonderful trip that included Norcia, Senigallia, Ascoli, and Sulmona.....even though this was late September/October, we seemed to be the only English speakers around......began in Rome where we then drove to Norcia, then Senegallia, etc...

I'm sorry we did not detour to Urbino...

Tuscany and Umbria are my favorite areas of Italy. Lots of Renaissance there.
I don't like cold, better October or early Nov. not Winter.