In a patent dated June 10, 1468, Federico da Montefeltro formally declared his intention to build a residence that would surpass all princely courts in Italy. Today, owned by the Italian State and flanked by the Cathedral and Teatro Sanzio, the Palazzo Ducale is the monumental core of Urbino. It originated with Federico's grandfather, Antonio, and his father, Guidantonio, who built an early residence facing what is now Piazza Rinascimento. The complex currently ranks among the region's most prominent sites, recording 191,829 admissions in 2015 alongside the National Gallery.
What to see
Construction occurred in three primary phases. In 1454, Florentine architect Maso di Bartolomeo connected the older hilltop structures, creating the austere, three-story Tuscan-style Palazzetto della Jole and the Appartamento dei Melaranci, featuring fireplaces dedicated to Hercules and martial virtues.
Following military victories in 1462, a newly enriched Federico hired Dalmatian architect Luciano Laurana (1464–1472), likely on the recommendation of Leon Battista Alberti. Laurana designed the harmonious porticoed courtyard, notable for its round arches, Flavian-inspired Corinthian capitals, and Roman epigraphic inscriptions. He also introduced cannon-proof oblique defensive walls and built the Scalone d'onore, the Library, the Sala degli Angeli, the Sala delle Udienze, and the sacred zone. Overlooking the Valbona valley is his highly visible Facciata dei Torricini, featuring twin towers flanking three superimposed loggias modeled after the triumphal arch of Castel Nuovo in Naples.
In 1472, Francesco di Giorgio Martini took charge of the site. He finished the "L" shaped facade on Piazzale Duca Federico, the Terrazza del Gallo, the Bagno del Duca, and a hanging garden. Inside, sculptor Ambrogio Barocci executed lavish decorations, and the intricately detailed Studiolo remains almost entirely intact today. Following Federico's elevation to Duke by Sixtus IV, the initials "F C" (Federico Conte) on the stone details were systematically stuccoed over and replaced with "F D" or "FE DUX" (Federico Duca). Later additions occurred in the 1560s, when architect Filippo Terzi removed the medieval battlements to complete the second floor, adding southern rooms decorated with elaborate stucco ceilings by Federico Brandani.
Visiting
Having served as the seat of the Apostolic Legate from 1631 until its acquisition by the Kingdom of Italy, the palace now houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche and the lapidary museum. The complex extends down the cliffside to the Mercatale square. Here, visitors can admire Francesco di Giorgio Martini's immense spiral ramp (rampa elicoidale), engineered to allow horses and carts to ascend directly to the palace, alongside the "Data" (Orto dell'Abbondanza) and the massive basement stables.
Our editors' tip
Take time to examine the brickwork on the Facciata dei Torricini. Instead of the dark, highly textured bricks typical of the Emilia region, or the intense, transparent red characteristic of nearby Forlì, the builders utilized a traditional Marche brick that is distinctly smooth and luminous.