Urbino, the Marché District, Northern Italy

Urbino - The University Town

The once great city of Urbino remains a cornerstone of the Marché in north eastern Italy. Still important in its own right as a center of learning, its significant past is preserved in the history of those imposing ancient buildings which guard the footpaths. The palaces of Urbino are dignified and impressive. Their grey stone walls create a fortified frontage to the streets. They are buildings which express power rather than exuberance and demand respect rather than delight.

Urbino - like many of the great Italian walled cities - was planned to repel invaders and to be defended and defensible. The centuries provide a chronicle of many attacks, - some successfully resisted and some succumbed to. It is the history built into these stern walls which is recognised in Urbino’s status as a World Heritage Site.


From early in the twentieth century Urbino began to grow as a centre of learning, and today it is still known chiefly as a university town. The quiet streets in the early morning attest to its seasonal student population. With an emphasis on study and learning even to this day, the large historic buildings have been able to be put to good use and preserved. Glimpses of modern facilities within historic walls can be seen from the streets. The occasional cafe or picturesque craft shop also spills out from a palazzo here and there to add a splash of life and colour to what could otherwise be a stern streetscape.

Close to Urbino is the Fortress Sassocorvaro  -  an almost windowless castle with high rounded protective walls. The Fortress earned its fame as L’Arca del Arte - the Arc of Art. It is here that many of Italy’s great works of art were secreted during the Second World War, to protect and save them from the desecration of the Nazi war machine as it swept through Italy during the later stages of the war. Up to 10,000 works of art were saved in this way, including works by Bellini and Raphael.

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