Description of the attraction
Palazzo Ducale in Urbino is a splendid Renaissance palace listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important monuments in Italy. Its construction began in the middle of the 15th century on the instructions of Duke Federico III da Montefeltro. The original project of the palace was worked by the architect from Florence Mazo di Bartolomeo, and its facade, the famous courtyard and the huge entrance staircase were designed by the architect from Dalmatia Luciano Laurana, inspired by the masterpieces of the great Brunelleschi. At the same time, the light and majestic courtyard of the Palazzo Ducale, with its graceful covered galleries, is reminiscent of the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome, the finest creation of the Renaissance. Many of the exquisite carvings that adorn the palace are so similar to those of Piero della Francesca's paintings that scholars are still debating the artist's possible involvement in Laurana's project.
After Luciano Laurana left Urbino in 1472, work on the construction of the Palazzo was continued by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, who was mostly responsible for the decoration of the facade. The portals and window sculptures were made by the Milanese Ambrogio Barocci, who also worked on the interiors of the palace. When Duke Federico III died in 1482, the Palazzo was not yet completed, and construction work temporarily ceased. The second floor was added only in the first half of the 16th century according to the project of Girolamo Jenga.
Until the 20th century, Palazzo Ducale remained a government building that housed municipal archives and offices. In 1985, the palace was restored, and the National Gallery of the Marches was opened within its walls with one of the world's finest collection of Renaissance works. The extensive underground Palazzo network was also opened to the public.
