Photo: Stefano Sansavini · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Urbino
The Duke's Renaissance palace and Raphael's hill town.
A Renaissance town on two hills in the Marche: the Duke of Montefeltro's palace, Raphael's birthplace and steep brick lanes full of students. Beautiful, lively and cheap, reached by bus from Pesaro on the coast.
Places to see
- Palazzo Ducale and the Galleria NazionaleMuseum · The Duke of Montefeltro's palace, with its twin-towered façade over the valley; inside,…≈ A$18
Raphael's HouseMuseum · The house where Raphael was born in 1483, with his father's workshop and a fresco of the…≈ A$7
Urbino CathedralChurch · A big, pale neoclassical cathedral beside the Ducal Palace, rebuilt after an earthquake,…Free
San Domenico
When to go
- Jan9° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Feb10° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Mar14° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Apr18° / 7°Some rainBusy
- May23° / 11°Some rainBusy
- Jun27° / 15°Mostly dryBusy
- Jul30° / 17°Mostly dryBusy
- Aug30° / 17°Mostly dryBusy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The old town. The palace, cathedral and Piazza della Repubblica; lively with students.
Via Raffaello. The steep street up to Raphael's house and the fortress park.
Flying in
Bologna (BLQ): Marconi Express, train to Pesaro, then the bus, about 3 h 30 min, ≈ A$49.
Ancona (AOI): Bus or train to Pesaro, then the bus, about 2 h 30 min, ≈ A$26.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Urbino; check times and fares before you fly.
By bus
The train doesn't reach Urbino: take it to Pesaro station, then the bus. Buses from Pesaro station to Urbino, about 55 min, roughly hourly, fewer on Sundays (check)
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$6. The old town is small, steep and best on foot; a lift and ramp climb from the Borgo Mercatale bus station into town. Buses to Pesaro station about hourly (check).
Tourist tax
Urbino's tourist tax: usually about €1–2 a person a night, for the first nights; under-14s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
