Palazzo del Collegio Raffaello, Renaissance palace in Piazza della Repubblica, Urbino, Italy

The Palazzo del Collegio Raffaello is a Renaissance building on Piazza della Repubblica with a rectangular courtyard, ground floor arcades, and two levels of window openings. The symmetrical layout and clear architectural organization make it a striking example of Renaissance design in the city center.

Pope Clement XI had the palace built in the early 18th century to house the Scolopi Fathers, who had been in Urbino since the second half of the 17th century. Alessandro Specchi designed the facades facing Via C. Battisti and Piazza della Repubblica. Work stalled after the pope's death and resumed under the Carmelite Giovan Battista Bartoli, finishing in the early 1740s. The Scolopi ran the college until the late 19th century, with interruptions during the French occupation and a brief Jesuit period.

The palace's name recalls the Collegio Raffaello, the school the Scolopi Fathers ran here until the late 19th century. The former church of Sant'Agata, once holding works by Paolo Uccello, Giusto di Gand and Titian, was split in the mid-19th century; its upper hall now hosts the city council. A room is dedicated to engraver Leonardo Castellani, displaying prints donated by his heirs.

The building can be viewed from the outside since it faces the main city square and is easy to locate. Interior spaces have limited public access, but the architecture and courtyard can be appreciated from the piazza itself.

Hidden on the roof sits a small observatory tower designed by Father Alessandro Serpieri for astronomical observations. This overlooked structure was the site of scientific work and reveals the building's educational ambition extending beyond the classroom.