About Urbino
Urbino is a small, walled town in the heart of Italy. Located in the Marche region just one hour from the Adriatic Sea, it's a true Italian gem. Urbino has a total population of about 14, 780 people, but it has a vibrant history and culture. Not only was it a major stomping ground for artists during the Renaissance, but it was also the bithplace of the famous painter, Raffaello Sanzio.
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Today, there are countless traces of Urbino's rich past -- from the brick buildings, to the frescoes, to the lively festivals that occur throughout the year. Urbino is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's not difficult to see why!
La Storia di Urbino
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The city of Urbino was founded many, many years ago on a hill. For a while, it was a contested area between various groups -- including the Byzantines, the Lombardians, and eventually, the Romans. Under Roman rule, Urbino became a walled city.
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In the twelfth century, the Roman emperor at the time, Federico II, gave Urbino to the Montefeltro family. Unfortunately, the Urbinati did not like this exchange, and so they overthrew the government in 1234. The new government persisted for a short while, but eventually, the Montefeltros regained power again.
Between 1444 and 1482, the duke of Urbino was a man named Federico da Montefeltro III -- he was fundamental in developing the the culture and the style of the city during the Renaissance. One of his greatest projects was Il Palazzo del Duca -- an iconic castle-like structure that still stands today. When Federico died, he was succeeded by his son, Guidobaldo I. Later, Guidobaldo helped to found what would become the University of Carlo Bo. Then, for a short while in the 17th century, Urbino was incorporated in the Papal Sates.
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On December 10th, 1860, Urbino and the March region became part of a unified Italy. Although Italy was not completely unified until the annexation of Rome in 1871, this period was very important for the Urbinati and their city.
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Certainly, the story of Urbino is more intricate than what I can describe -- this is just a condensed version that covers some important parts of Urbino's past. The city may be small, but is has a rich and beautiful history.
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