This Renaissance-era town in central Italy includes the grand Ducal Palace and historic Cathedral. Its art galleries and regional Marche cuisine draw visitors beyond the usual tourist spots.
Urbino rises on two steep hills in central Italy's Marche region, enclosed by medieval walls. The 15th-century Ducal Palace's twin towers dominate the town center, where you can see Piero della Francesca's "Flagellation of Christ" and Titian's "Resurrection." In the streets around Piazza della Repubblica, university students fill outdoor tables at cafes, while the surrounding hills of Le Marche stretch toward the Adriatic Sea.
Navigating Urbino's Hills
The town spreads across two steep hills, with most streets at challenging angles. From the main entry at Piazza Mercatale, you can take an elevator through the rock to reach Corso Garibaldi, saving a steep climb. The medieval wall encircles the town with four gates, and two main roads intersect at the central Piazza della Repubblica, creating an easy reference point for navigation.
The Ducal Palace
The 15th-century Palazzo Ducale is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The National Gallery of the Marche occupies its rooms, where you'll see Piero della Francesca's "Flagellation of Christ," Raphael's "La Muta," and Titian's "Resurrection." Walk through the central courtyard to reach Duke Federico's study, where wooden panels depict musical instruments, books, and scientific instruments in detailed inlay work.
Student Life in the Historic Center
The University of Urbino, founded in 1506, adds 24,000 students to this town of 15,000 permanent residents. Students gather at cafes around Piazza della Repubblica, eating crescia (a local flatbread) and drinking coffee. You'll see locals shopping at small grocery stores and meeting friends at bars, while tourists explore the palace and museums.
Art Beyond the Palace
In the Oratory of St. John, the Salimbeni brothers' 1400s frescoes cover the walls with scenes from the saint's life, including detailed depictions of daily medieval life. At Raphael's birthplace, a five-minute walk from the Ducal Palace, you can see the stone where his father Giovanni Santi ground pigments for his paintings. The 15th-century Cathedral stands next to the palace, rebuilt after an earthquake but maintaining its original facade design.
Getting to Urbino
No trains reach Urbino directly, but buses run every hour from Pesaro on the Adriatic coast, where you'll find train connections to major Italian cities. The bus journey takes about one hour. If you drive, park in the underground garage at Piazza Mercatale - the historic center only allows resident cars. Buses also connect Urbino to Rome (4 hours) and Bologna (3 hours).
