Urbania is a lively medieval town in central Italy where you can experience Italian life in a friendly small town environment. Although it is in a picturesque position in the hills, the town itself is flat, making it pleasant to walk. Urbania has good restaurants, bars and cafes, making it a good base for exploring the region.
During the early Middle Ages, before being taken over by the Duke of Urbino, the city was called Casteldurante. The Ducal Palace of Urbania was the vacation home of the Duke of Urbino, who brought culture and art to Urbania. Urbania has long been one of the most important ceramic centers in Italy.
Urbania Location
Urbania is located on the River Metauro, in the northern part of the central region of Le Marche, one of the most remote and least touristy regions in Italy. Urbania is 17 km from the beautiful Renaissance town of Urbino, the main inland town of Le Marche. It is about 50 km off the Adriatic coast to the east and close to the Umbria and Tuscany regions to the west. (see map of the Le Marche region)
Transporte Urbania
The closest train stations to Urbania are in Pesaro and Fano, on the Adriatic coast. From the stations, there is a bus service to Urbania. There is one bus per day (except Sundays and holidays) from Roma-Tiburtina station to Urbino. From Urbino, there is a good bus service to Urbania and many of the nearby small towns, and the journey takes between 35 and 45 minutes. The closest airports are Rimini and Ancona, two smaller airports on the Adriatic coast.
Urbania itself is small and can be easily explored on foot. Around the perimeter of the city, there is a lot of parking.
Things to do in Urbania
Urbania’s attractions are centrally located, within walking distance of each other.
- The Ducal Palace of Urbania, once the summer residence of the Duke of Urbino, now houses the Civic Museum, library and art gallery. As you walk through the palace, you will see historical ceramics, paintings, engravings, and a collection of globes and maps. The Museum of Agriculture can also be visited with the entrance to the Doge’s Palace. This small but interesting underground museum has exhibits highlighting the enology and agricultural life of the past.
- The Urbania mummy cemetery in the Chiesa dei Morti or Church of the Dead has 18 naturally mummified corpses on display. Read more about the Urbania Mummies cemetery
- Cathedral: The Benedictine Abbey of San Cristóbal was built in the 6th century but was reduced to its current size in 1759. The city of Casteldurante grew around the cathedral. In front of the cathedral is a large public square.
- The Museo Diocensano, the former residence of the bishop, exhibits ceramics and paintings from the 1300s to 1900s.
- The Church of San Francesco, built in 1284, was rebuilt in the 18th century in the Baroque style. Inside there are important works from the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Ceramics are produced in small family workshops in Urbania. You will find high-quality ceramics for sale in various ceramic shops in the city, but one of the best is Ceramica d’Arte L’Antica Casteldurante di Gilberto Galavotti e Giuliano Smacchia , Piazza Cavour 4.
- Enoteca Vin Italia has local wines to taste and buy.
- The Bramante Theater was built between 1857 and 1864 on the ruins of the old fortress. The theater is sometimes open for public performances, including a free opera performance in early August by Italian Operatic Experience students.
- Square life: Urbania’s main square is always lively and is a place for people watching. Around the square are ice cream and pastry shops, bars and the historic Bramante Theater.
Ceramic Urbania
Urbania has been a center for handmade ceramics since the 15th century. Today there are pottery workshops where you can watch artists at work, buy high-quality handmade pottery, and even take pottery classes yourself. Many of the modern pieces are replicas of local ceramics from the 15th and 16th centuries, carefully copied from the originals.
One of the best ceramic workshops is Ceramica d’Arte L’Antica Casteldurante di Gilberto Galavotti e Giuliano Smacchia , Piazza Cavour 4. Beautiful ceramic pieces of all sizes are sold in the shop in front of the workshop. Parts can also be specially ordered.
If you want to take an art class while in Urbania, Associazione Amici della Ceramica Urbania offers beginner or experienced pottery, painting and sculpture classes, ranging from half a day to a full week or more.
Where to stay in Urbania
There are no hotels in the historic center of Urbania, although there are several Airbnb rentals and some B & Bs. A 10-minute walk from the center, the Hotel Bramante Spa is a modern option, or there is Country House Parco Ducale, also just outside From the center of the city.
Schools in Urbania
Scuola Italia offers Italian language courses for students of all levels. Accommodation is available with local families, in apartments or in nearby guesthouses or hotels. Students can also practice what they learn in Urbania.
During the summer, Dance Master Class offers a comprehensive dance curriculum, with programs for adults and youth. Students can also take Italian or English classes. At the end of the season, students perform at Urbania’s historic Bramante Theater.
Festivales Urbania
July 25 is the day of San Cristóbal and there is a great procession to honor the patron saint of Urbania. The following Sunday there is a car blessing and a horse race in disguise. Summers are full of festivals and musical events of all kinds. I was there for three nights in July and there was free outdoor entertainment every night. In June, Urbania holds a ceramic fair. From January 2 to 6, Urbania has a great festival for Epiphany and La Befana (who is La Befana?).
Search de Urbania – Peglio, Urbino and Mercatello sul Metauro
Peglio is a charming hilltop village 3 km from Urbania. At the top of the village there is a bell tower dating from 1485. From Peglio you can walk along the path built into the edge of the cliff to have a “panoramic view” of the mountains and valleys of central Italy.
The beautiful Renaissance city of Urbino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located 17 km east of Urbania.
To the west of Urbania is the charming market town of Mercatello sul Metauro and in the mountains to the north is the interesting town of Carpegna, known for its special ham or ham, and home to one of the last artisanal producers of block stamped fabric. . .
