Rinascimento is the Italian word for Renaissance, and is worth noting because the renaissance (a French word) is thought by historians to have been misnamed.
The period of history known as the Renaissance was named so because of the rebirth or revival of art, letters and learning during the 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries which marks the transition from the medieval to the modern world.
The originators of the Rinascimento were Italians who, among other things, revived Roman architecture, based on mathematical design. The movement remained concentrated on the Italian peninsula, and possibly the most well-known 'Renaissance man' is Leonardo da Vinci.
The Rinascimento was only named in French instead of Italian because of the prevailing preference for French as the language of culture and learning - a sentiment which lingers today.