Bernardo Michelozzo and Bonsignore Bonsignori are clergymen and intellectuals of the Renaissance period. Particularly, B. Michelozzo's theological career is significant for that era. He was educated in Florence and earned a doctorate in theology there in 1482. During this period, he read many ancient authors and gave lectures on these subjects. He was especially interested in Homer and other ancient literary figures. He established close relationships with the humanists of that time. Between 1497-1498, he embarked on a long journey to the East, reaching as far as Jerusalem, with the prominent clergyman of the time, Bonsignore Bonsignori. The travel notes from this journey have survived to the present day in the form of letters and other notes by the two travelers. Particularly noteworthy is a letter he wrote to his brother from Pera during this period, mentioning the purchase of 17 ancient manuscripts. The impressions of these two Italian clergymen about the Çanakkale region are quite interesting as they reflect the knowledge of Troy and the region in Italy at the time:
"(April 25, 1498)
On the third day, we arrived at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), 3 miles from the sea, where the scenery is very beautiful. However, instead of staying there, we stayed at a place four miles away, where there is a market, at Lansachi, which master Bernardo said was the site of ancient Lapseki (Lampsakos), in a Turkish house, and here we could see part of the city walls made of large stones.
The next day, we went to the fortress at the strait where the city of Abydos is located. Then we crossed the Dümrek stream (Simiois river/Simonete), which flows into the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelle), where there is a fortress (Kumkale). We had lunch on the banks of the Karamenderes (Skamander) river, which still bears the same name, and returned in the evening to stay at a Turkish house in Troy. The next morning, we passed through a very beautiful valley with many marble pieces and tomb remains, where it seems viticulture is practiced. In the middle of the valley, we saw a small river, but we could not determine whether it was Xanthos or another river leading to a beautiful plain in another valley. It is impossible to say whether it is flat or hilly, as there are many hills, plains, and similar valleys. We passed through Troy (this is actually Alexandria Troas R.A.) entirely, with a circumference of approximately 12-13 miles. Much of the walls can be seen here and there. They are about 10 feet high (1 foot = 30.48 cm; R.A.), with the inner and outer surfaces of the stones cut and filled with gravel and mortar. The stones on the outside are very similar to those of the Ghondi house in Florence, but much larger. The interiors of the buildings are all destroyed, and we have no doubt that all these stones are from ancient Troy, but they were later built by a Roman ruler. Because we found Latin inscriptions belonging to an emperor in four or five different places here. We saw the remains of a large palace, about 400 steps in size, square in plan, with very beautiful arches, higher on the sea side to see everything. At the top, we saw, though not entirely sure, beautifully carved edge stones and friezes.
This structure seems very old, perhaps the building described as "quinquaginta illi talami-Troy's burning palace" (Vergil. Aeneas II 53-55)...
There are other ruined buildings, much larger, and not much is known about them. There are remains thought to be an aqueduct, which I can only explain to you in person. We started walking upwards from here, master Bernardo left his sword there to remember, then we walked towards the river behind, which we could not determine if it was the Xanthos river I mentioned earlier, where we saw a very beautiful, quite warm stream and a large ruin with Latin inscriptions. But apart from this, six arches standing vertically can be seen. Master Bernardo and I can say that we have seen more beautiful bath buildings than those we mentioned. Below this, there is a very large temple with marble tombs, fifty-one arms in length. Inside Troy, there are very few huts for the Turks to work there, and we remembered Ovid's lines here: "Iam seges est ubi Troya fuit" (Now a barren field is where Troy once stood) Ovid. Epis. 1, 53). We set off from here, stayed at a Turkish house in the evening; they were preparing salt (medicine) for the master of the house who had contracted an epidemic; we slept outside.
The next morning we set off, crossed the mountains, reached the sea, and found the Genuesers Group (a religious community) of Mytilene (Midilli)."