Donato Bramante was an influential Italian architect and painter of the Renaissance, born in 1444 in Urbino. He is best known for his role in the development of classical architecture in Italy, particularly through his design of the Tempietto at San Pietro in Montorio in Rome, which exemplifies the harmony and proportion characteristic of the period. Bramante's work laid the groundwork for the later achievements of other prominent architects, including Michelangelo and Andrea Palladio. He was also instrumental in the planning of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most significant churches in the world, which became a symbol of the Catholic Church's power and influence during the Renaissance.