Italy is one of those countries that keeps pulling me back. So much so that I’m starting to lose track of the number of times I’ve visited. Until now most of my time in Italy has comprised a tick-list of the most visited spots in Italy, sharing elbow room with hundreds of other visitors who have come to see the same things. And, as amazing as my time in places like Florence and Rome have been, there is something much more magical about exploring the destinations where comparatively few tourists go. Urbino is one such place.
Head south-east from Bologna an hour and you find yourself in Le Marche, a region defined by its rolling, green patchwork of land where towns perch on hilltops and red-tiled roofs amble downwards as far as the eye can see. It’s one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Here are the 7 best things to do in Urbino.
1. Urbino’s Panoramas
Even in the crux of substantive renovation, Urbino wowed me within seconds of arriving. The Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is an imposing presence that dominates the skyline of the city, and despite the two towers being clad in scaffolding, conjuring up a vague association in my mind with the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the vision caught my breath.
Yet, unbelievable as it may sound, the palace isn’t the Ace in Urbino’s deck.
Rising above the valleys of Le Marche, Urbino is a hilltop town that can throw a vista into your viewpoint without warning. Walking between the tall, traditional tan brick building, lost as usual, I turned a corner and was slammed by this sight, which turns out to be fairly commonplace.
The hilly cobbled streets may provide texture underfoot and demand flat shoes by default, but the element of surprise panoramas were what excited me the most about Urbino.
If you want a full panorama, make sure you take the trail up to Parco Della Resistenze. It may have a path steep enough to make you pant but at the top you can take a rest, gather your breath and inhale the views.
2. The Ducal Palace
It was a wet Friday morning when I got to the Ducal Palace for an injection of Renaissance art. In any of Italy’s more popular cities the rain would have spelled long queues for such an indoor activity, but in Urbino we practically had the place to ourselves and I revelled in the deliciousness of the tranquillity.
Roaming the corridors and exploring the grandeur of the palace, I was staggered that the works of art on display were as good as anything I’d seen in the Pitti Palace in Florence. Better, in fact, for the lack of crowds.
3. The Cathedral
Like most cities in Italy, the Cathedral (Cattedrale) forms the heart of Urbino. Unlike the more well-visited cities in Italy, I was able to get shots absent tonnes of tourists. Better still, I was able to sit and sip a coffee and take in the views at my leisure. Without having to pay inflated prices. Ever tried that in Florence? Ever failed?
4. Restoration Artists
Perhaps the one thing that warmed my heart the most was the restoration efforts that go on in Urbino. I’m not talking here about the large-scale restoration that the city is currently undergoing, as impressive as that is (until relatively recently, parts of the Ducal Palace were in ruins). I’m talking about the training that the young students of Urbino do to become masters in restoration of Italy’s heritage.
Paintings, wood, metal and other materials I know too little about to reference properly, the future preservation of Italy’s treasure trove is in the hands of the nation’s youth and Urbino is home to one of the country’s leading universities where these vital skills are being passed down.
I took a quick snoop around the university and was lucky enough to speak to one student who had been working on a piece for over a year (many of the works used for study are donated by the plethora of churches in Italy). I felt pity for the student who, not long after starting her restoration piece discovered that there was an identical painting on the reverse side. Twice the effort, I thought. Twice the excitement, her face said, reminding me that arty endeavours command a level of patience and skill I will only ever be able to admire.
5. Modern Art in a Medieval and Renaissance Setting
Art is a dominant theme in Urbino. Perhaps prompted by the ongoing presence of the Renaissance, perhaps just the combination of that many young, aspiring minds in such a concentrated area (Urbino features an Academy of Fine Arts and a Higher Institute for Industrial Art). Consequently, it doesn’t take long to bump into some creativity in Urbino. And if the Renaissance period becomes too much (it did for me in Florence – reference: my nap in the Uffizi), it’s good to have an alternative art offering.
And speaking of alternative, I went to see a play while I was in the city, produced by the Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti di Urbino). Figuring that I can follow the opera, therefore the language doesn’t need to be a barrier, I settled down to what was the most fascinating and crazy piece of performance I’ve seen in a long time – Senza Fin.e. Translated, it means unending, an appropriate title for a work that included a dead man, a dominatrix trapped in a TV, a human-sized rabbit and a stuffed cat that freaked the hell out of me. Definitely one I’ll remember for a while.
6. Urbino’s Café and Bar Culture
Life doesn’t seem to pause in Urbino. I know this because I regularly try to take stalker shots of people going about their daily life (in a mentally healthy way, I promise you), but everyone was moving too fast in Urbino for that to happen. The place was vibrant with an undercurrent of excitement that was contagious. Whether it was standing at the counter for a short shot of espresso (half the price if you drink the coffee that way in Italy), or sipping a spritz on the terraces come aperitivo time, life echoed through every portico of the city bring a smile to my lips with it.
7. Urbino’s Food
And then there was the food. I have a separate article on the passatelli and crescia served up in Urbino but suffice to say, visiting in truffle season was an excellent choice!
Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre. They are destinations that make it onto most people’s Italy itineraries. But the true richness of this beautiful country lies not just in its sights, but its culture that runs deepest in the small towns and cities that dot the map and are most often passed over in favour of more iconic spots. By all means, see those spots. Who doesn’t want to go to Italy and see the Colosseum?
But I recommend you take the time to see more.
See Urbino.
I promise it won’t disappoint.
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My visit to Urbino was courtesy of Regione Marche but I fell in love with the city all on my own.
Hello, I am so glad I came across your posts and knowledge on beautiful Italy.
My boyfriend and I are headed to Monoco this May for the Grand Prix and then were off to Italy for the next 8-9 days. Both our first time. Yes, I know, certainly not enough time for it would take years and beyond to explore all Italy has to offer. So I’ve surrendered to the fact that we can only physically do what we can get in during our short time and try and make the most of it while relaxing and not over booking. So we have 9 days. Little ol’ me has offered to take over the itineray, one less thing the old man;) has to deal with. However, I am so not savvy with finding the most unique places so now I come to you. I want to prove myself and show him that I can pull this off and pull it off in the most memeorable trip. As of now, we are doing leaving Nice after the Grand Prix and heading to Florence and then to Rome. Staying at The Ritz Carlton. Yes, I know, very nice however I was looking for something a bit more like an old farmhouse with rolling hills as views, landscape and uniqness. I pretty much have carte blanch which helps! Any suggestions with your expertise and experience to beauticful Italy? Should we stop somewhere off the beaten path on the way to Florence and stay for a night? This was where I was trying to find an old beautiful farm house. I would be so appreciative for any suggestions or recommendations.
Sandra
Hi Sandra, what an amazing trip you have planned. I have two more off the path recommendations for you – the Prosecco region which is just an hour outside Venice and also a place called Tavarnelle val di Piesa Have you also considered the south of Italy? Hopefully you should find some nice inspiration here. Have an amazing trip! I’ve written about all these places on the site.
Jo,
Thank you for posting this.
I had the pleasure of staying in Urbino for 5 weeks this summer as I went to study abroad and it was everything that I expected and more. It took no time at all to feel at home there and amazing for people to not know about it when I said I was studying in Italy.
Among my favourite places were Gellateria Romana and Il Corteggiano as well as the Pizza place right below the small church next to the Piazza della Republica.
It is were I truly fell in love with Italian culture and the people only fueled that. Some of the best locals I have ever encountered and some very patient store clerks as I tried to tidy up my spoken Italian (including the lady at the Cell phone shop at the base of the city, where I had my first Italian conversation in Italy.)
Hi William, you are so lucky to have been able to spend 5 weeks in Urbino and you’re definitely right about this place finding its way into your soul. My Italian is terrible but the people tried so hard to help me. And the food…oh, I wish I was there right now. I could do with a decent pizza…or crescia.
Hi Jo!
You have already said more than everything!
Somebody else says that Urbino is the second best Italian city for Renaissance efter Florence.
There is also who said that Raffaello comes from Florence and – as you know – that’s a lie! 🙂
Thanks Valentino. I have a funny relationship with Renaissance art – I could stare at it all day, but I’m hopelessly uneducated on it. So, probably like most visitors to to Italy 🙂 With that in mind, I’d at least say Urbino and Florence are comparable because in Urbino I was able to stare at the impressive paintings without the crowds and queues. To the untrained eye, that was invaluable. As for Raffaello – I saw his house…and it was definitely in Urbino 🙂
Uh. When are you going back. With me, of course…:) Looks gorgeous.
Megan, it was absolutely beautiful. Let’s go live there. In the Duke’s palace. We can have a turret each and spend the days writing and the nights eating. Bring the family. It will be fabulous…oh, the dreams 🙂
Beautiful article!
Glad that Urbino is getting some well deserved attention, we surely do not want it to become a tourist trap, but a few more visitors would be great.
Hi Giulla, it is an important balance to strike – more visitors without becoming a tourist trap. I hope Urbino gets the right attention it deserves. It certainly captured my heart. Thanks for the link to your blog. I’ll definitely have a look – I may find myself planning my return visit 🙂
Beautiful, just beautiful Jo!
I love how you describe perfectly how Le Marche gets under your skin instantly and not to mention how hard you fall in love with the region!
I lived and studied in a small village called Castelraimondo and felt right at home 😉
We traveled to neighboring towns but we didn’t make it to Urbino!
After reading this I must go back and see it with my own eyes!
Loved all your photos, they truly captured the beauty, energy & essence of the city.
Tante grazie 🙂
Thanks, Karla 🙂 I consider myself very lucky to have “ticked-off” many of the obvious attractions in Italy because now I can get on with the more interesting adventure of exploring the less well-known corners. And I’ve just added Castelraimondo to the list! I’d definitely recommend a trip to Urbino. November was the perfect time to visit – still able to sit outside with a coffee but cold enough to justify the comfort food. That said, I bet Urbino is beautiful all year round. Guess I’ll have to revisit and find out. Let me know what you think when you do visit!
Urbino…my second home. I fell in love with Urbino as a college student. So much so I found a husband and stayed several years. My first reaction to your post is pride. Pride that someone else has discovered what I did so many years ago. But my second reaction is Shhhhh! The contrast between the major tourist areas and Urbino are stark. I was amazed last time I visited Rome and one finds oneself surrounded by a throng of tourists ALL the time. Urbino still has the same amount of visitors as 30 years ago -not too many and mostly day trippers from the “Adriatic Riviera”. It is a beautiful city/town with spectacular views from everywhere. I would recommend an extended stay to get a true flavor of the Itallian lifestyle – hopefully with a small Italian vocabulary. Thanks for posting!
Hi Nancy, I consider you very lucky to have spent so long studying and living in Urbino. And I definitely share the conflict about publicising the city 🙂 On the one-hand it’s too beautiful and inspiring not to shout about. On the other-hand, it would be so sad if the city got squashed by tourists. I hope Urbino experiences a slow gathering of explorers who have a genuine interest in visiting Urbino to share the sights and local life, but to give back instead of just take, as can so often be the case with tourist crowds. I’d like to hope my readers fall into the first category and would enjoy a rich interaction with Urbino life, making for a great exchange all round. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Feel free to share the post…with those you trust to keep the secret well 🙂
Well done!! Very, very good Jo!! 😉
Thanks, Peter. Urbino wrote this story all by itself long before I visited 🙂