Urbino’s story is one of transformation—from a modest hill town to a shining star of the Italian Renaissance. Its golden age began in the 15th century under the rule of Duke Federico da Montefeltro, a humanist leader and military strategist who turned Urbino into a beacon of art, culture, and learning.

During his reign, Urbino attracted some of the greatest minds and artists of the time. The Palazzo Ducale, his elegant palace, became a model of Renaissance architecture and intellectual life, filled with art, books, and philosophical debate. The city’s influence was so profound that it shaped the course of Renaissance culture across Italy and beyond.

Urbino is also the birthplace of Raphael, one of the greatest painters of the Renaissance, whose early years were deeply influenced by the city’s creative spirit.

Today, Urbino preserves its historic center almost untouched, offering visitors the rare chance to step directly into the world of 15th-century Italy—a UNESCO World Heritage Site that still pulses with the spirit of its remarkable past.