Urbino

URBINO - Dominated by the magnificent Palazzo Ducale, the city today houses the Marche National Gallery. Sights: Diocesan Albani Museum, who keeps a wide collection of ceramics, glass and religious artifacts, as well as the painting of the Last Supper by Federico Barocci (XVI). The Church of St. Dominic, with its magnificent travertine portal on which is set a work of Luca della Robbia. The Oratorio of San Giuseppe, famous for the stucco nativity scene, dated 1522. In 1416 Count Guidantonio Sanseverina called the brothers Lorenzo and Jacopo Salimbeni to fresco the chapel, followed by Ottaviano Nelli and Antonio Ferrara Alberti (from Gubbio). The Oratorio of San Giovanni Battista (XIV century) whose interior is decorated with fresco cycles of the Fifteenth Century, including the crucifixion and the life of Giovanni Battista by Lorenzo and Jacopo Salimbeni. The Cathedral, that stands between the intricate medieval streets, was built by the architect Laurana, and rebuilt by Valadier in 1784 after a massive earthquake, later restored with palladiane forms. Not far from this picturesque town are villages and towns rich of medieval features such as Fermignano, Acqualagna and Apecchio with the fossil museum and the largest Globe of the world. An extraordinary natural attraction is the Gola del Furlo Park.