Urbania, located in the heart of the Metauro Valley, is a lively and welcoming town.
Ceramic City of Italy, the ancient Casteldurante offers visitors a rich and varied experience, thanks to its prestigious cultural, artistic and architectural heritage.
Urbania stands on a beautiful bend of the Metauro river. From the quiet of those waters and the strong and hospitable character of its inhabitants, it confirms its identity as a lively and pleasant city.
The authenticity of itself, of its history and its traditions, a rich and varied tourist offer, together with the hospitality of its inhabitants, are the distinguishing features that invite travellers to linger and return again.
In the centre of the Metauro valley, bordering the other valleys of the Province of Pesaro and Urbino and close to the regions of central Italy, Urbania has always been an important crossroads for commercial and cultural exchanges. The city changed its name twice during its history, Castel delle Ripe in the Middle Ages and Casteldurante from 1284, it became Urbania when Pope Urban VIII in 1636 elevated it to a City and Diocese “amoenitate loci, humanitate civium” for the beauty of the place and the civility of the inhabitants.
What to visit
Main Events
Befana Festival
The town centre comes alive with stalls, street artists and activities for children. The Befana (witch) descends from the tower on a wire at twilight, distributing sweets and gifts to children of all ages and welcomes everyone to the House of the Befana.
January
Exhibition at Palazzo Ducale
Exhibition at Palazzo Ducale in Urbania, promoted every year by the Civic Museums of the Municipality of Urbania.
April - October
Sagra del Crostolo
Food stands to celebrate the crostolo of Urbania, stuffed with the best delicacies of the area, workshops and activities for children, music, markets and “CrostolChef” cooking competition between the ProLoco of the Marche.
September
Contacts
Tourist office of Urbania
I.A.T. Informazione e Accoglienza Turistica
C.so Vittorio Emanuele II, 21
Tel. 0722 313140
turismo@comuneurbaniapu.it
visiturbania.com
Urbania in the Alta Val Metauro
Find out more about Urbania
The ancient city walls invite you to take a pleasant walk and enjoy a view of the Metauro river. The urban layout at the end of the 13th century was planned by Guglielmo Durante. It is notable for its characteristic loggias or porticos and the large bend of the Metauro river that encloses the town, as well as its pretty surrounding hills. A visit to the city of Urbania allows you to discover a prestigious cultural, artistic and architectural heritage, from the imposing Palazzo Ducale, commissioned by the Montefeltro-Della Rovere family and home to the Civic Museums, to the Bramante Theatre, the Leonardi Museum and the Cemetery of the Mummies. An important religious itinerary accompanies the visitor to the sacred places of the city, from the Cathedral of San Cristoforo, to the Church of San Francesco, from the Church of Santa Caterina to the Oratory of Corpus Domini and numerous others inside and outside the historic centre.
1 km from Urbania, on the road towards Sant’Angelo in Vado, is the Barco Ducale, a hunting reserve commissioned by Federico da Montefeltro and a favourite place of Duke Francesco Maria II Della Rovere, today reachable on foot from Urbania along the attractive Sentiero del Duca. At the centre of the Barco area stands the imposing architectural complex of the eighteenth-century convent of San Giovanni Battista.
The production of ceramics has been the identifying characteristic of Urbania since the Renaissance when Casteldurante produced among the most beautiful majolica of the period. This important craft made it famous in every corner of Europe for its elegance and the pictorial genre called “istoriato” (the painting of historical scenes on ceramics).
Since 1994 it has been certified as an area of traditional artistic ceramic production, the first municipality in the Marche and is a member of the A.I.C.C. Italian Association of Ceramic Cities.
There is also a wide range of outdoor attractions in and around Urbania. There are many footpaths and cycle routes in the Appennines as well as the CEA San Martino (Centre for Environmental Education) in collaboration with Bosco dei Folletti (https://boscodeifolletti.it/), which offers visitors to Urbania a unique experience as well as landscapes of infinite beauty.
Urbania also has a great culinary tradition that respects the seasons and the use of typical local produce, making it a favourite destination for food and wine lovers.
Today Urbania is a lively cultural centre that attracts many visitors, with Italian language study centres for foreigners, courses in ceramics and local cuisine, festivals, literary prizes and events all year round.
