Why was Italy the connection between the Ottoman Empire and the rest of Europe?

Italy had a strong connections to the Ottoman Empire. This may have influenced Italy by allowing for the transition of ideas, increasing Italy's Renaissance capital lead / fund. Power changed from nobles to merchants as the Black Death spread through Italy in the mid-1300s (Middle Ages) and destroyed many great nobles. During the Middle Ages, nobles retained wealth and power on land, but through trade, traders retained wealth and power.