| Pesaro - Urbino Province |
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Throughout the
world Urbino, birthplace of the great italian artist
Raffaello, is the best known city of Le Marche. Plan to
be enthralled and amazed by the spirit of history that
still haunts its magnificent buildings, this is not a
place for a fleeting visit. Wander through the winding
streets and stairways within its walls and find every
turn more of its fascinating treasures. Start at the Piazza Duca Federico by the neo-classical style Cathedral which contains fine paintings by Federico Barocci. Discover the house of Raffaello, the church of St. Domenico, the university and the Oratories of Santa Croce and st. Giovanni Battista. Finally on to the Ducal Palace, the greatest jewel in town. Built for Federico da Montefeltro by architect Luciano Laurana and Francesco di Giorgio Martini, it is a masterpiece of Reinassance art. |
| The Ducal Palace
has two spiral towers facing west towards Tuscany,
towards the cradle of enlightenment. All Palace life
revolved around the central courtyard and it is from
there that access is gained to the Dukes Library. Other
rooms testify to the sophistication of planning; the
Duke's baths with a complex heating and drainage system,
the underground rooms that were filled with snow to chill
food, the horse training stables, the gathering Room
where contemporary intellectuals gathered and the
exquisitely panelled study. The Palace now houses the national Gallery of Le Marche with 27 rooms displaying fine works by such artists as Raffaello, Paolo Uccello, Piero della Francesca and Barocci. It is not possible to portray in so few words the splendour which is Urbino, only time spent wandering its streets will bring a true understanding of its history. |
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| Some of the
traditional foods of the province owe much to history
too. Many are no longer everyday fare, but can still be
sampled on special occasion : i "granetti"
(corn bread) sheeps milk cheese such as
"caciotta", prized white truffles used to
impart a delicate flavour to many dishes, Fratterosa
guinea fowl baked in the owen and all manner of meat
sausages. Il "formaggio di Fossa" is a
speciality cheese aged in cellars cut into the mountain
town of Apecchio. Naturally there are plenty of good local wines too. Try "Bianchello del Metauro" and "Sangiovese dei Colli Pesaresi" or the rarer "Tristo di Montesecco" and "Vernaccia del Cesano". |
