Urbino the ducal city
50km from Camping Fano
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Urbino is the heart of the Renaissance civilization, where art and culture blend. Even today it looks like centuries ago when Federico Montefeltro called soldiers, artists and sculptors at court.
The city walls, first example of modern fortification vibrate with the echoes of Urbino history which can be heard along its small walkways and inside its IV century palaces. This lively city hosts the many students attending the Ateneo Feltresco which under Carlo Bo’s guidance until 1998 represents one of the most important and ancient universities of Italy.
Its impressive Ducal Palace, commissioned by Federico da Montefeltro to strenghten his family prestige houses one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in Italy by Raffaello, Piero della Francesca, Paolo Uccello and Tiziano. The upper and most ancient section of the city walls, the Fortress, was built with a heart shaped layout in all seven wall bastions and is named after Egidio Albornoz sent to the city in 1300 to restore order in this important centre under the Papal State.
By following the ascending cobbled street starting at Piazza della Repubblica, between the two hills on which Urbino is situated, you arrive to Raffaello birth home, today hosting a small museum.
Summer musical events
The summer in Urbino is rich in musical events as witnessed also by the presence of the historical Musical Chapel, a real temple of music since 1507. Among the events worth to mention, there is the unique Frequenze Disturbate, a contemporary indipendent music festival. July celebrates San Crescentino, the city patron saint, and the last event of August is the Festa del Duca, a historical Reneissance revival with many music, cinema and theatre events and weaving, decoration and sculpure workshops and much more.
Gastronomy
The casciotta d'Urbino is one of the typical products of the area, an ancient variety of cheese awarded by the European Union with the Denomination of Protected Origin. Another typical specialty is the crescia sfogliata a version of piadina enriched with lard, eggs and milk and often served as an appetizer together with local sausages, and sauteed wild greens. Home-made pastas such as cappelletti in brodo, ravioli, tagliatelle tirate al matterello are also typical local specialties. And to even better appreciate the richness of this food, excellent olive oil and great wine will accompany all your meals.
