Urbino is a city in the Marche region, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, situated on a hill in a valley surrounded by the Apennine mountains. The historical centre is a jewel of the Italian Renaissance, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Urbino experienced its greatest splendour in the 15th century under Duke Federico da Montefeltro, a condottiere and patron of the arts: thanks to him, the city became an important cultural centre, the seat of prestigious institutions and a magnet for artists of the calibre of Piero della Francesca, author of the famous Palio with the Flagellation of Christ.
The fulcrum of Urbino is the Ducal Palace, one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in Italy: its interior houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche with masterpieces by Piero della Francesca, Paolo Uccello, Titian and Raphael. From the fortress there is a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding hills.
The historic centre of Urbino is a maze of cobbled streets, squares and stone buildings, such as Palazzo Albani and the imposing eighteenth-century cathedral; in the streets it is pleasant to stop in one of the many bars and restaurants, sampling the typical local products. Urbino is not only an open-air museum, but a lively and dynamic city, home to the University, which gives the city a youthful and modern character, and also hosts events and festivals of international importance.