451 m above sea level, surrounded on three sides by the river Metauro, rises Urbania, the ancient Casteldurante of the Dukes of Urbino.
In the province of Pesaro and Urbino, the city is full of attractions.
Above all: the Ducal Palace, only 15 km far from that of Urbino.

Small capital of Massa Trabaria in the Middle Ages, known all over Europe as Casteldurante for its ceramics in the Renaissance, today is known for producing jeans.

Ancient Roman municipium, Guelph in the Middle Ages therefore struggling with Urbino - that destroyed it twice – it reached the splendour with Frederick of Montefeltro and as the residence of Francesco Maria II Della Rovere.

Animated the toponymy: in the Roman age it was called perhaps Urbinum Metaurense, then Castel delle Ripe, from 1284 Casteldurante – by Monsignor Guillaume Durant who had to rebuild it - and since 1636 Urbania, by Pope Urban VIII who made it diocese and city.

The Ducal Palace, built in brick, is a masterpiece.
Already Brancaleoni Palace, it was transformed in the fifteenth century by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, for Frederick of Montefeltro’s will, then remanié by Gerolamo Genga.
Of great charm the walkway on the river, the loggia and the helicoidal ramp.
Today it hosts: the Civic Museum, the valuable Library, the Picture-gallery with the very important gallery of drawings, the modern ceramics and the globes of Marcatore; in the cellars the Museum of history of the agriculture.

The Episcopal Palace hosts instead the Diocesan Museum, with an extraordinary collection of ceramics of Casteldurante, from the fourteenth to the twentieth century.

Places of worship: a lot and rich of works of art.

Among the sights: the Cemetery of mummies sets out 18 bodies that have naturally become dry.

1 km far from the centre, stands the magnificent Barco Ducale, former summer residence and place of hunting of the Dukes of Urbino.
Built in 1465, designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini and remanié by Girolamo Genga, it is embellished by the church of Vanvitelli.
Today it has a green area to relax (with pool, tennis, bar) and is home of the Association Friends of ceramics.

For people who love nature: in the valley, among oak trees, some paths are tracked to go up the hills and the mountains.

Events: from 2 to 6 January the Great Feast of Epiphany, with games, the flight of the “befana” and fireworks.
At Easter challenge with “punta e cul”: who has the hard-boiled egg that keeps undamaged wins the beaten and dented eggs.
At the end of April A Flower City.
In June the Celebration of ceramics.
On July 25 the Feast of St. Christopher Patron, with the custom to bless the cars.
The rich summer musical bill culminates in the Opera Concert of the feast of the Assumption.
In September the International Festival Polyphonic Chorus.
In October the Old Fair of St. Luke and of Women’s with the Mycological Exhibition.
In November the prestigious Metauro Poetry Prize.

For gourmets: excellent restaurants and taverns where you can eat the “coratella” of lamb for breakfast.
In the typical menu: “porchettina” snails, “crostoli” (similar to “piadina”), mixed roast and pigeon with filling. Truffle, black or white, at will (S. Angelo in Vado and Acqualagna are round the corner)!
Among the first courses “lumachelle della Duchessa”.
Among the sweets: “bostrengo”, “miaggio”, “bastoncelli”.

Curios: The House of the “Befana” PO Box open 61049 Urbania (Pu) Italy, to write the “befana”!
An illustrious fellow-citizen was also Bramante.
He is dedicated the Theatre, a bonbonnière of the nineteenth century.

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