National Gallery of the Marche

Enter the court of the Duke of Montefeltro and discover all the beauty inside this important palace: this is the city's main monument and one of the greatest artistic-architectural examples of the Italian Renaissance. It houses the National Gallery of the Marches. One of the major artistic attractions of the entire region, and definitely a must-see gem of the country's Unesco heritages: inside you will find admirable works by the likes of Federico Barocci, Piero della Francesca, but above all by Urbino's best-known artist and among the most important Italian painters, Raphael Sanzio. Come with us to discover all these works with the enthusiasm and knowledge of our guides, to learn every secret of this admirable ducal residence.

Step into the world of Renaissance art and culture with this entry ticket to the Ducal Palace and the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche in Urbino. The palace, commissioned by Federico da Montefeltro in 1444, is a testament to his Renaissance personality that combined culture, military skill, and politics. Marvel at the palace's refined decoration, its inlaid studio, and the Courtyard of Honour. The palace also once housed an extraordinary library of illuminated manuscripts. The Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, located within the palace, boasts collections of 17th-century paintings, graphics, and ceramics. The King’s Hall, with its gilded stucco ceiling, celebrates Federico and his lineage. Take a unique journey through time and experience the grandeur of the Italian Renaissance firsthand.

The guided tour of Urbino is a journey through time that will take you back to the Renaissance period along the streets of a village rich in history, artisan shops and beautiful buildings on several levels. It starts from the birthplace of Urbino's most illustrious artist, Raffaello Sanzio, one of the symbolic painters and architects of the Renaissance, whose works are famous all over the world. We will tell you the story of him, the first paintings in his father's workshop up to the most prestigious works along one of the main streets that bears his name. From here we move to visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the most important church in the town and in the heart of the historic center, rebuilt several times over time with a beautiful neoclassical facade; inside there are precious paintings and the Caves with various chapels used over time as a deposit of Venetian works and as a refuge during the Second World War can also be visited. Nearby we can admire the symbolic building of the town and one of the most important artistic and architectural examples of the Renaissance, the Ducal Palace, a small fortified town built by Federico da Montefeltro who wanted to transform Urbino into the ideal town, calling the most brilliant artists to court of his time. Today it houses the National Gallery of the Marche containing precious paintings by Raphael, Titian and Piero della Francesca. The imposing building deserves to be seen on various sides on two different levels, being Urbino a vertical town, and for this reason we continue the tour along the characteristic helical ramps, with a break for some photographs at the beautiful Egyptian obelisk donated in 1737 by Cardinal Albani. The ramps are located inside a bastion next to the suggestive Torricini of the Ducal Palace and were built by the Duke to reach the palace comfortably on horseback; today they are considered an ingenious architectural work and a good viewpoit to admire all the splendor of the Palace. Adjacent to the ramps we find the Raffaello Sanzio Theater inaugurated in the mid-1800s and still used for various types of shows. The guided tour ends with other evocative views of the village and at Porta Valbena, one of the main access routes to the historic center, set in the walls to protect the village.