Overview
Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club
Urbania, once known as Casteldurante, is located in the upper Metauro valley, north of the Marche. It was renamed Urbania in 1636, when Pope Urban VIII elevated it to City and Diocese due to the civilization of its inhabitants and the beauty of the place.
The city boasts a fine and very varied cultural and artistic heritage: Palazzo Ducale, today home to the library; the Civic Museum and the Museum of the History of Agriculture and Crafts; the Bramante Theatre, one of the region’s greatest jewels; the Cathedral of San Cristoforo and the Cemetery of Mummies, with 18 bodies perfectly preserved by a curious phenomenon of natural mummification due to a particular mould present in the territory. Not far from the centre stands the Barco Ducale. Particularly rich is the offering of naturalistic experiences in the area, such as itineraries in the Apennines and the Bosco dei Folletti, a playful and educational trail designed for children.
The city boasts an important tradition linked to ceramics, and indeed its majolica has made it famous since the Renaissance. Today, the tradition is revived by local shops, and courses in this technique are held throughout the year. Among Urbania’s typical products are crostolo flatbreads served with cured meats, pecorino cheese and wild herbs, and bostrengo, a winter dessert made from rice and walnuts, to be paired with visciole - or cherry - wine. Interesting events include the family-friendly Festa Nazionale della Befana (National Epiphany Day), featuring a variety of shows, workshops, events and activities held on the 6th of January and the 3-4 days leading up to it, the Sagra del Crostolo held in September, and the numerous exhibitions set up at the Palazzo Ducale.
