Urbino

Day 1: First impressions and the Renaissance heart

Arrive to a city of warm brick and terracotta rising from twin hills. Start outdoors for the best light, then step into the refined spaces that defined the Italian Renaissance.

• Morning: Park at Borgo Mercatale (ZTL ahead) and take the public lift to the upper town. Walk to the Fortezza Albornoz in Parco della Resistenza for sweeping views of the skyline and the torricini; early light flatters the brick and long shadows enliven photos. Amble down via Via Raffaello to feel the medieval street grain before approaching the palace.
• Midday: Enter the Palazzo Ducale/Galleria Nazionale delle Marche (book online; hours vary seasonally and many sites close on Mondays). Linger in the Cortile d’Onore to read its proportions, then the Studiolo for its virtuosic intarsia; a compact space that rewards quiet contemplation. Pause for a light lunch in Piazza della Repubblica, the city’s “living room,” and watch student life flow past.
• Afternoon: Continue within the palace: the Scalone d’Onore, the ducal apartments and basement service levels reveal the building’s “city-in-a-palace” logic. Step across to the Duomo to contrast Valadier’s cool Neoclassicism with the palace’s Renaissance language; in wet weather, these interiors make an excellent shelter from slick cobbles.
• Evening: Stroll the passeggiata from Piazza della Repubblica along Corso Garibaldi back toward the palace; sunset on the torricini is magical. Dine in the centre and remember that residential vicoli prize quiet—keep voices low after dark.

Day 2: Layers of devotion, daily life, and hidden craft

Today is about Urbino at human scale: intimate oratories, domestic architecture, and the lived-in fabric that binds the city together. Expect short, steep walks and frequent pauses to look up at eaves, chimneys and irregular window rhythms.

• Morning: Visit the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista (International Gothic frescoes in a humble brick shell) before crowds. Continue to Casa Natale di Raffaello to read a 15th‑century merchant house—modest fee, small rooms, arrive early. Take side alleys to appreciate how medieval bones shape light and shade.
• Midday: Seek the Renaissance portal of San Domenico and the nearby San Francesco to trace the arrival of Florentine ideas. Coffee under the arcades of Via Mazzini; on rainy days, these porticoes are practical cover. Tip: in narrow residential lanes, avoid blocking doorways with tripods or group photos.
• Afternoon: Explore university spaces such as Palazzo Bonaventura to see how a Renaissance palazzo works as a modern campus. If you enjoy design, walk or descend via the Rampa Elicoidale (helicoidal ramp) to the restored Data (ex‑stables) for exhibitions—an exemplary adaptive reuse; check current programming.
• Evening: Time your return to a viewpoint—either the Fortezza again or the terrace by the theatre—for the golden hour over the palace massing. During term time (Sept–June) the streets hum with students; in July–August it’s quieter and cooler evenings are best for walking.

Day 3: Walls, landscape, engineering — and a farewell circuit

Connect palace, city and countryside. You’ll trace fortifications, visit the ducal mausoleum outside the walls, and loop back through Urbino’s infrastructural masterpieces.

• Morning: Walk a segment of the walls from Porta Valbona to understand 15th‑century bastions and how brick unifies the city. Continue on a gentle out‑and‑back to the church of San Bernardino (allow ~30–40 minutes each way on foot or take a short taxi), the Montefeltro mausoleum set in serene landscape.
• Midday: Picnic just outside the walls with views back to the torricini, or return to the centre for a simple trattoria lunch. In winter, opt for a warm indoor spot and let fog soften the skyline—Urbino in the mist feels timeless.
• Afternoon: Revisit the palace precinct to walk the Rampa Elicoidale in full (shoes with good grip recommended); it’s where engineering, ceremony and practicality converge. Consider booking a specialised architectural guide for deeper access and context; opening hours shorten in low season, so check ahead.
• Evening: Make a last slow circuit: Piazza della Repubblica to Corso Garibaldi, then one final look at the palace from below. Celebrate with an aperitivo, jot final notes or sketches, and allow extra time to descend via the lift to Borgo Mercatale—cobbles can be slick after rain.

By Air

• Ancona (AOI, Falconara): approx. 70–80 km; 1 hr 15–30 mins by car. Train to Pesaro (35–45 mins) then bus to Urbino (50–60 mins).
• Rimini (RMI): approx. 60–65 km; about 1–1 hr 15 mins by car. Train to Pesaro (20–30 mins) then bus.
• Bologna (BLQ): approx. 170 km; 2–2.5 hrs by car. Direct high-speed trains to Pesaro (about 1 hr 30 mins), then bus.
• Perugia (PEG): approx. 110–120 km; 1 hr 45–2 hrs by car. Public transport requires multiple changes; driving is usually faster.

By Train

• Urbino has no railway station. Use Pesaro (on the Bologna–Rimini–Ancona line) as the gateway.
• Typical times to Pesaro:
  • Bologna: about 1 hr 30 mins (high-speed).
  • Milan: about 3–3 hr 30 mins (often direct high-speed).
  • Florence: about 2.5–3 hrs (change in Bologna).
  • Rome: about 3.5–4 hrs (usually 1 change, often Ancona or Bologna).
  • Ancona: about 35–45 mins.
• From Pesaro station, take a regional bus to Urbino (50–60 mins).

By Bus

• Frequent regional buses link Pesaro railway station and Urbino (typically every 30–60 mins on weekdays; reduced service on weekends/holidays). Journey 50–60 mins; main stop in Urbino is Borgo Mercatale.
• Additional regional services run from Fano and other towns in the Metauro valley. Check current timetables locally or online.

By Car

• From the A14 (Adriatic Motorway), exit at Pesaro–Urbino or Fano, then follow SS423 towards Urbino. Typical drive times:
  • Rimini: 1–1 hr 15 mins
  • Ancona: 1.5 hrs
  • Bologna: 2–2.5 hrs
  • Florence: 2.5–3 hrs
  • Rome: 3.5–4 hrs
• The historic centre is a ZTL (restricted traffic zone). Use the Borgo Mercatale car park and walk or take the public lift up into the centre.