This is a list of notable central Italians.

Architects

Francesco Talenti (c. 1300 – aft. 1369), was an architect. He worked at Orvieto Cathedral in the 1320s, and succeeded Pisano at Florence Cathedral in c. 1343. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446), was an architect and polymathic genius, who, among other achievements, was the discoverer of linear perspective. Michelozzo (1396–1472), was an architect and sculptor, notable in the development of Florentine Renaissance architecture. Bernardo Rossellino (1409–1464), was an architect as well as a sculptor and carried out the building of the Palazzo Rucellai. Giuliano da Sangallo (c. 1445 – 1516), an architect, engineer, and sculptor, was active in Florence, Rome, Naples and Milan. Baccio Pontelli (c. 1450 – 1492), was an architect and sculptor. Pupil of Francesco di Giorgio. Antonio da Sangallo the Elder (c. 1453 – 1534), Renaissance architect among whose works was San Biagio near Montepulciano. Baccio D'Agnolo (1462–1543), was a "wood-carver, sculptor, and architect who exerted an important influence on the Renaissance architecture of Florence."Baccio d'Agnolo. Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2014. Web. 11 March 2014. Antonio da Sangallo the Younger (1484–1546), was "one of the most distinguished architects... in the second quarter of 16th century."Curl, James Stevens. Antonio da Sangallo, the Younger. In A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, 2006. Oxford Index – Oxford University Press. Web. 16 March 2014. Jacopo Sansovino (1486–1570), was an architect and sculptor, most famous for his works in Venice's Piazza San Marco, particularly his Biblioteca Marciana. Giulio Romano (c. 1499 – 1546), architect, painter and decorator, whose real name was Giulio Pippi. "He was one of the major figures of the late Renaissance."Curl, James Stevens. A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Oxford University Press, 2006. p. 317. Web. 3 April 2014. Galeazzo Alessi (1512–1572), was an important High Renaissance architect, best known for his work in Genoa and Milan. Bernardo Buontalenti (c. 1531 – 1608), architect, engineer, designer, painter, and inventor. He was one of the great Renaissance polymaths. Nicola Sabbatini (1574–1654), was an architect and engineer "who pioneered in theatrical perspective techniques."Nicola Sabbatini. Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2014. Web. 20 March 2014. Gherardo Silvani (1579–1675), was a Baroque architect of distinction. His main work is the church of San Gaetano in Florence. Carlo Rainaldi (1611–1691), was one of the most important architects in Rome during the second half of the 17th century.Mena, Manuela. Italian drawings of the 17th and 18th centuries from the Biblioteca Nacional of Madrid. Spanish Institute, 1989. p. 63. Web. 2 April 2014. "Carlo Rainaldi, one of the most important architects in Rome during the second half of the century, was the son of Girolamo Rainaldi, a Roman architect who was trained in the mannerist style." Domenico Martinelli (1650–1718), was an architect and painter. Among his best works is the palace of Prince Lichtenstein at Vienna. Alessandro Specchi (1668–1729), "was an able civic designer who, among other works, began the delightful Scala di Spagna, Rome (Spanish Steps)."Fletcher, Banister; Palmes, James C. Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture. Athlone Press, 1975. p. 851. Web. 3 April 2014. Alessandro Galilei (1691–1737), was one of a number of gifted architects whose work moved away from Baroque towards Neoclassicism. Nicola Salvi (1697–1751), was an architect. He is now remembered for his work at the Trevi Fountain, the last great baroque monument in Rome. Ferdinando Fuga (1699–1782), was an architect. He is best known for his rebuilding of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Giuseppe Piermarini (1734–1808), was "the leading architect in Lombardy during the last quarter of the 18th century."Anderson, Stanford; Wilson, Colin St. John. The Oxford companion to architecture. Oxford University Press, 2009. p. 717. Web. 18 March 2014. Louis Visconti (1791–1853), was an architect active in France. His most significant project was the design for Bonaparte's Tomb. Enrico Marconi (January 1792 – 1863), was an architect. From 1822 to his death, he was active in Poland. Antonio Corazzi (December 1792 – 1877), was one of the principal authors of the architecture of Warsaw in the first half of the 19th century. Marcello Piacentini (1881–1960), was an architect. Son of Pio Piacentini, and principal architect in Rome during the Fascist regime. Italo Gismondi (1887–1974), was an architect and archaeologist. He also created the plastic model of ancient Rome displayed in the Museum of Roman Civilization. Pietro Belluschi (1899–1994), was an architect, civil engineer, and designer. He won the 1972 AIA Gold Medal. Luigi Moretti (1907–1973), was an architect. His most notable work is the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. Pietro Porcinai (1910–1986), was an artist, furniture designer, architect, and landscape architect, who began his career as a garden designer in 1937. Massimiliano Fuksas (born 1944), is an architect. Among his works may be cited the Twin Tower, Vienna (1999–01), and the FieraMilano complex, Milan (2002–05).

Chess players

Serafino Dubois (1817–1899), was the leading Italian chess player for most of the mid 1800s.Sunnucks, Anne. The encyclopaedia of chess. Hale, 1976. p. 114. Web. 29 March 2014. "During the middle of the last century Dubois was the strongest player in Italy." Antonio Sacconi (1895–1968), was a chess player. International Master (1951) and Italian Champion in 1935 and joint Champion in 1937.

Cinematography

Augusto Genina (1892–1957), was a director and writer, known for Bengasi, The Siege of the Alcazar, and Heaven over the Marshes. Mario Camerini (1895–1981), was a director and writer, known for Ulysses, Una romantica avventura, and War and Peace. Alessandro Blasetti (1900–1987), was a director and writer, known for The Iron Crown, Prima comunione, and Me, Me, Me... and the Others. Aldo Fabrizi (1905–1990), was an actor and director. He is best remembered for his performance in the Rossellini film, Rome, Open City. Roberto Rossellini (1906–1977), was the first neorealist film director to rise to international acclaim with the release of Rome, Open City. Anna Magnani (1908–1973), was an actress who won an Oscar for her performance in the screen adaptation of Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo. Gillo Pontecorvo (1919–2006), was a film director. He is best remembered for The Battle of Algiers, regarded by many critics as a masterpiece. Alberto Sordi (1920–2003), was an actor who depicted Italy's virtues and vices in more than 160 movies and contributed to making Italian comedy famous worldwide. Carlo Lizzani (April 1922 – 2013), was a director and writer, known for The Hunchback of Rome, Bandits in Milan, and Celluloide. Mauro Bolognini (June 1922 – 2001), was a prolific director admired, above all, for his elegant adaptations of literary works, made mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. Giuseppe Rotunno (born 1923), cinematographer. He is known for his work on The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Wolf, and Amarcord. Gabriele Ferzetti (born 1925), is an actor, known for Once Upon a Time in the West, L'Avventura, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Sergio Corbucci (1926–1990), was a director, known for The Great Silence, Navajo Joe, and Gli specialisti. Lucio Fulci (1927–1996), also known as The Godfather of Gore, was a film director, screenwriter, and actor. Sergio Leone (3 January 1929 – 1989), was one of the most important directors of his generation. He is mostly associated with the Spaghetti Western genre. Elio Petri (29 January 1929 – 1982), was a writer and director, known for Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, A Quiet Place in the Country, and The Assassin. Silvana Mangano (April 1930 – 1989), was an actress. She is best known for her role in the film Bitter Rice. Antonio Margheriti (September 1930 – 2002), was a director and writer, known for Yor, the Hunter from the Future, Cannibal Apocalypse, and Horror Castle. Virna Lisi (born 1936), is an actress. In 1994, she won two awards: Cannes Film Festival award and César award. Giuliano Gemma (1938–2013), was an actor. A Pistol for Ringo, The Return of Ringo, and Blood for a Silver Dollar are among his greatest successes. Osvaldo Desideri (born 1939), is an art director. He won an Oscar for Best Art Direction and Set Decoration (with Cesari and Scarfiotti) for The Last Emperor. Vittorio Storaro (born 1940), is a cinematographer who won Oscars for Apocalypse Now, Reds, and The Last Emperor. Manlio Rocchetti (born 1943), is a makeup artist. He won an Oscar for Best Makeup (with Lynn Barber and Kevin Haney) for Driving Miss Daisy. Isabella Rossellini (June 1952), actress and model. She is probably best known for her role as Dorothy Vallens in the 1986 David Lynch film Blue Velvet. Roberto Benigni (October 1952), is an actor, director and producer best known for his 1997 Oscar-winning film Life Is Beautiful. Nanni Moretti (born 1953), is a director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Ecce Bombo is generally considered his masterpiece. Margherita Buy (born 1962), is an actress, known for The Ignorant Fairies, The Caiman, and Days and Clouds. Gabriele Muccino (born 1967), is a director and writer, known for The Pursuit of Happyness, Seven Pounds, and The Last Kiss. Matteo Garrone (born 1968), is a writer and director, known for Gomorrah, Reality, and L'imbalsamatore. Asia Argento (born 1975), is a director, writer and actress. She is the daughter of the famous horror director Dario Argento.

Economists

Pellegrino Rossi (1787–1848), was a law expert, economist, diplomat, active in Swiss, French, and Italian politics. Franco Modigliani (1918–2003), was an economist. He won the 1985 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his pioneering work in economic theory. Mario Draghi (born 1947), is a banker and economist. In 2013 Forbes nominated Draghi 9th most powerful person in the world.

Engineers

Felice Matteucci (1808–1887), was a hydraulic engineer, co-inventor with Eugenio Barsanti, of the internal combustion engine.Day, Lance; McNeil, Ian. Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology. Routledge, 2002. p. 816. Web. 19 March 2014. Filippo Zappata (1894–1994), was an engineer and one of the most important designers of seaplanes.Casabella. Domus, 1998. p. 36. Web. 6 March 2014. Riccardo Morandi (1902–1989), was a civil engineer. One of his most famous executed projects is the bridge on Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela.

Engravers

Maso Finiguerra (1426–1464), was a goldsmith, engraver, and draftsman, known for his work in niello, and as "one of the first major Italian printmakers."Maso Finiguerra. Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2014. Web. 11 March 2014. Stefano della Bella (1610–1664), was a printmaker noted for his engravings of military events, in the manner of Jacques Callot. Francesco Bartolozzi (1727–1815), was an engraver in the service of George III of the United Kingdom. Bartolomeo Pinelli (1771–1835), was a painter and engraver who illustrated the works of Virgil, amongst others and published albums of numerous classical subjects.

Explorers

Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512), was an explorer for whom the Americas were named. Orazio Antinori (1811–1882), was a zoologist and African explorer, born at Perugia.

Fashion designers

Guccio Gucci (1881–1953), was a fashion designer and founder of The House of Gucci. Roberto Cavalli (born 1940), is a well-known fashion designer of modern luxury clothing. Laura Biagiotti (born 1943), is a fashion designer affectionately known as the Queen of Cashmere. I settant'anni di Laura Biagiotti, la "Regina del cashmere." Moda – Affaritaliani, 2013. Web. 27 March 2014.

Fashion models

Monica Bellucci (born 1964), is a model and actress. Mariacarla Boscono (born 1980), is a model.