Urbino, Renaissance city in Marche, Italy
Urbino is a town in the Marche region sitting on a hill above rolling valleys and farmland, with ochre-colored buildings made of brick and plastered facades. Streets climb in curves and open onto small squares, while arcades and staircases link different levels together.
In the 15th century, Federico da Montefeltro expanded the town and attracted artists and scholars who worked here until his death in 1482. His son sold valuable parts of the library, but the built fabric remained and later became part of the Papal States.
The city takes its name from the Latin Urvinum, referring to the early Roman settlement at this location. Today locals and students gather in Piazza della Repubblica, where cafes and small shops line the square.
The journey goes through Pesaro, from where buses take about 45 minutes to climb the hill and stop at the edge of the old town. From there you continue on foot, as many areas are closed to vehicles and the streets are steep and narrow.
Raphael was born here in 1483 and spent his first years in a house near the town walls, which can be visited today. The birthplace preserves frescoes and furniture from that period and shows how an artist family lived in the late 15th century.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
