Tourist attractions in Italy: Urbino and the Ducal Palace

This city is considered a pinnacle of Renaissance architecture and regarded by many as the ideal city of those times.

Having studied there for as many years as I was allowed (and maybe a little beyond), I can personally attest that Urbino is an extremely pleasant town to visit and live in.

Getting into the town, the main landing point is the “Mercatale”: once a market, it is now a huge parking.

It is advisable to arrive early, the Mercatale can fill up surprisingly quickly despite its size.

A magnificent ramp, designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini (famous Renaissance architect and artist) will take you to the Palazzo Ducale.

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The palace is the landmark of Urbino. The two slender towers, i Torricini, make it look like a fairy tale castle.

A visit to the Palazzo Ducale its a must.

The presence and personality of Duca Federico is still strong in the chambers of the castle.

The quantity and quality of the exhibit can be overwhelming but don’t miss (even under the most severe cases of aching feet) the Studiolo del Duca (the Duke’s study), the intriguing paintings of Piero della Francesca and the Sotteranei, the underground.

This part was open to the public only recently and shows the everyday life in Renaissance times. You’ll see here the stables, baths, kitchens and the “neviera”, used to store snow in the winter and as a fridge during the summer.

Do you want to see more views of Urbino? Click on the arrow below to watch this great video.





WHERE TO STAY IN URBINO