Urbino is one of the best-preserved Renaissance towns in Italy, perched on twin hills in the Marche region and remarkably unchanged since the 15th century. It was the birthplace of both Raphael and the architect Bramante, and under the rule of Federico da Montefeltro it became one of the most brilliant courts in Europe.
The Palazzo Ducale dominates the town — a palace so harmonious and inventive that it helped define Renaissance architecture across the continent. Inside is the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, which holds Piero della Francesca's haunting "Flagellation of Christ" and a remarkable collection of 15th-century Italian painting. The city's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Urbino is a university town, which gives it more life than you might expect for somewhere so small. Students fill the steep lanes and modest restaurants, and the town manages to feel lived-in rather than preserved-in-amber. It is not on the main tourist trail — which is exactly the point.