Monday 25th April

After just over 3 weeks in Italy we thought we had a fair handle on what to expect when we visited somewhere new. You tend to start thinking that they will all  look the same - but they don't and you will continue to be surprised by what each place has to offer and show you.
This was the case with Urbino which we visited today. Urbino was described by UNESCO in 1998 as a "world patrimony of humanity", and declared it a World Heritage Site. Urbino has a rather colourful history and its rulers over the 14th, 15th centuries created a city of splendour which has been preserved for us to enjoy.
We walked the house that Raffaello spent his first 16 years in, We toured the grand Palazzo Ducale, a microcosm of Renaissance architecture, art and history. Here we saw 14th Century paintings on open display, and the way the upper crust lived in this period.
But we were also fortunate enough to be in Italy on Liberation Day, 25th April and we shared some of that with the people in Urbino and rememberd ANZAC Day back home when the band played "The Last Post". The renactment of Liberation Day seemed to be following us and like the Cagli bells' offer of yesterday you can get an exclusive copy of the band playing by simply asking for it.
There was also a super craft market of all sorts of wonderful "artigianale" (crafted by hand by artisans) things on in Urbino today and Ann had a ball visiting most of them and contibuting in a small way to the economy of the region.

Front of Urbino Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

The Courtyard of Honour in the Palazzo Ducale

Raphael's "Portrait of a Gentlewoman" (c. 1505 - 1507 ) 

Part of Cooking Area in Palace 

Motif on Ceiling in Library (see the eagle?)

Palazzo Ducale from carpark