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Urbino
A hill town in the Marche, Urbino was home to one of Italy’s most famous Renaissance mercenaries, Federico di Montefeltro. The hilly countryside around Urbino meant that the inhabitants were never going to get rich through agriculture. As a result, they turned their hands to soldiering for whoever would pay. Federico, the Duke of Urbino was so successful at this trade that he set up a Renaissance court that attracted many of the leading artists, architects and thinkers of the day.
Things to see:
Ducal Palace
The last stop for many people on the Piero della Francesca Trail, the Ducal Palace has a beautiful Renaissance courtyard, it also houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, with paintings by Piero della Francesca, Raphael and Paolo Uccello. The Flagellation of Christ was described by Kenneth Clark as “the greatest small painting in the world”.
Raphael’s House
Raphael was born in Urbino and you can visit his family’s house. |