High in the hills of the Marche lies Urbino, one of Italy’s most extraordinary Renaissance cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Small in size but enormous in influence, Urbino became one of the great artistic and intellectual courts of fifteenth century Europe. In Episode 6 of Italy’s Masterpiece Series, we step inside the world of Federico da Montefeltro, the soldier, duke, humanist, and patron who transformed Urbino into a center of Renaissance art, architecture, scholarship, and culture. We explore the magnificent Palazzo Ducale, Federico’s remarkable Studiolo, and the treasures of the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, including Piero della Francesca’s mysterious Flagellation of Christ and luminous Madonna di Senigallia. We also discover Urbino’s connection to Raphael, who was born here in 1483. We visit his birthplace, Casa Natale di Raffaello, and explore how the artistic and intellectual environment of Urbino helped shape the world into which one of the greatest painters of the High Renaissance was born. But Urbino’s story is also about the people behind the art. We meet Battista Sforza, Federico’s highly educated wife who helped govern the duchy in his absence, and look at the famous double portrait of Federico and Battista painted by Piero della Francesca. Along the way, we visit Urbino Cathedral, the fresco filled Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista, the unusual sculptural Nativity at the Oratorio di San Giuseppe, and San Bernardino, the final resting place of Federico da Montefeltro. Then we wander Urbino’s steep Renaissance streets, discover its historic university, take in the view from Fortezza Albornoz, and taste local specialties including crescia sfogliata di Urbino, Casciotta d’Urbino DOP, truffles, and passatelli. We’ll also look at the Festa del Duca, when Urbino returns to the world of Federico da Montefeltro with Renaissance costumes, processions, music, and performances. If you love Italian Renaissance art, Raphael, Piero della Francesca, historic palaces, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Marche, or discovering lesser known Italian cities, Urbino deserves a place on your Italy itinerary. Every episode in Italy’s Masterpiece Series also has an accompanying blog with photographs and images of the palaces, paintings, artists, rulers, and places discussed in the episode. Read the blog: KaterinaFerrara.com/blog Listen and watch Immersion Travel Italy: KaterinaFerrara.com/video-podcast/ Sign up for my free monthly Travel Italy Newsletter: KaterinaFerrara.com Next in Italy’s Masterpiece Series: Siena, Tuscany. Explore My Italy Travel Guides If you’re planning a trip to Italy and want deeper cultural insight, festival traditions, and immersive travel experiences, explore my Travel Italy guides. Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Sicily https://amzn.to/3KARdo8 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Puglia https://amzn.to/42WEnH1 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Rome and Beyond https://amzn.to/4gRlvz0 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Venice and the Veneto https://amzn.to/48OhHfT Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Milan and Lombardy https://a.co/d/0h0JFBhi Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Umbria https://amzn.to/4bRpcTj Sicilia in Festa: Experience the Magic of Sicily’s History, Art and Timeless Cultural Celebrations — English Italian Dual Language Edition https://amzn.to/4pUxBuP Guida Completa a Feste e Viaggi Sicilia — Italian Language Edition https://amzn.to/44AIYQ1 My NEW Tuscany guide https://amzn.to/4yoPTsr Follow Immersion Travel Italy for more Italian history, art, festivals, food, hidden destinations, and immersive travel planning.
