URBINO (Pesaro and Urbino) - Urbino is situated among the valleys of the rivers Metauro and Leaf, on two necks to 451 meters on the level of the sea, from which a vast panorama enjoys him that he/she embraces green hills and stately mountains.
The historical center has an extension of few more than a square kilometer, contained among the boundaries bastionate and entirely built in cooked bricks. Of form lengthened romboidale, the center is separated from two principal road aces and almost perpendicular between them (Street Mazzini and Street Caesar Battisti for a toward Street Rafael and Street Veneto from the other), that you/they meet him in the principal (Plaza of the Republic) Plaza, place of usual meeting of the urbinatis and the students. The town territory includes different districts, to few hundred meters from the historical center and a lot of distant fractions also different kilometers, all connected by public transports. The general extension is of well 227,9 square kilometers, for a population of 18.000 inhabitants you originate her of Urbino they are ancient.
The name Urvinum probably derives from the Latin term urvus (urvum is the bent handle of the plow). Among the most important characters it deserves an indication Guido the Old, famous and fiery ghibellino that Giving Alighieri, in the XXVII I sing some hell, he/she meets among the advisers. Only in the 1375 (around) Anthony from Montefeltro, one of the greatest figures of soldier and of political of the second halves the century XIV, skilled in to compose discords and critical situations and also in to draw the maximum advantages from other people's rivalries, he/she knew how to insert him in the Italian political game of the time, joining himself/herself/itself in 1376 Florence and Milan, tiing himself/herself/itself therefore of friendship with Gian Galeazzo Viscounts.
Thanks to the grown prestige, in 1390, it got from the pope Bonifacio VIII the recognition of all of his/her possessions. Such situation also brought beneficent consequences on the city that was able risollevarsi from the state of confusion in which it poured for the continuous struggles, and you/he/she could see that cultural and building awakening first moment of that irresistible ascent which went toward during the government of its great nephew Fred. To him they are owed the construction of the building of the lineage, today center of the university, as well as the first contacts with the world of the culture, that you/they brought to the realization of important artistic works.
It happened to him Guidantonio that purchased prestige continuing an aware politics of equilibrium. And' well to remember that really during his/her dominion, in 1416, his/her brothers Lawrence and Iacopo Salimbeni the oratory of St. Giovanni bringing in the city the most refined experiences of the Gothic polite; after them Ottaviano Nelli will come from Gubbio and Anthony Alberti from Ferrara.
To his/her death (1443) the young child Oddantonio took over that, as soon as sedicenne, didn't know not only how to maintain the politics of equilibrium, but it dissipated the scarce economic resources of the dukedom provoking a revolt that flowed in the conspiracy of July 21 st 1444, during which was killed together with two ministers. And' to this point that appears the figure of Fred from Montefeltro, the most illustrious character that will tie the history of the city to his/her own fame. Been Born to Gubbio in 1422, natural child of Cuidantonio, stepbrother of Oddantonio, Fred was raised by Giovanna Alidosi widow of Bartholomew Brancaleoni, whose Kind daughter would have become his/her bride (1437) before.
Since then its life was an example of perfect Renaissance prince, one of the protagonists of the Italian life of that century, great commander, but also great humanist, he who made to build from Luciano Laurana its residence, that "city in form of building" according to the definition of the Castiglione, that is tightly also the first example of tied up architectural and urbanistic complex to the nature. 1472 marks one it covers important for the life of Fred, both on the political plan and family: the rapid conquest of Volterra and the birth of the very heir, Guidubaldo, given him by the young Baptist it Strives, his/her second wife, nephew of the duke of Milan.
Two years later further meaningful recognitions will come: the pope will call him/it to Rome to name him/it rider of St. Pietro and Gonfaloniere of the Church (shortly after one daughter of his will marry a nephew of the pope Giovanni of the Oak); The king of England, Edward IV, will confer him the order of the Garter; the king of Naples the order of the ermine.
The death the surprises in 1482, with his/her/their child Guidubaldo still little boy. The wise guardianship of uncle Ottaviano Ubaldini knew how to preserve him all the powers conquered by his/her/their father, even if alternate Italian political stories forced him/it to abandon in escape the city, under the pressure of the Valentine that had conquered her in 1502. The following year, definitely reentered in possession of his/her dukedom, they finally took start serene years for the city and for the court, that the duchess Elisabetta Gonzaga animated with that famous cenacles that Baldassarre Castiglione has immortalized in his "Cortígiano."
It will be really in such cultural climate that will prepare him and he/she will affirm the artistic genius of Raffello which, after the formation in the fatherly shop and the first works performed for place of the dukedom, it will stir on recommendation of Giovanna Feltria Of the Oak - toward Florence and Rome where it will reach his/her apex. Only problem of the court was the lack of heirs, so that, to the death of Guidubaldo (1508) the dukedom passed to Francis Maria The of the Oak. Also without equalizing the shines of the Montefeltros, the Short roveresca kept on assembling around itself musicians and scenografi, artists and literates: different they are the committenzes to Titian, without forgetting the numerous done works to perform to the urbinate Fred Barocci that it certainly constituted the qualifying aspect of the committenza of the last Of the Oak.
But the most negative fact for the city was verified when the Court, in 1523, definite to transfer his/her own center to Pesaro, with consequent emarginazione of Urbino in comparison to the coast centers. The successors, Guidubaldo II, Francis Maria II and Fred Ubaldo, made to know to Urbino shining moments less and less, up to the 1631 date in which dark the last duke, remained without heirs, with consequent devoluzione of the dukedom, for hereditary matters, to the pontifical State.
Beginning from such Urbino dates you/he/she was submitted to a long series of subtractions: at first the transfer of the collections and many furnishes in Florence, initiated already from Francis Maria, therefore the real dispossession of quant'altro had remained in the building (the Portraits of the Studiolo, the Muses of the Tempietto, and finally, in 1657, the famous Library of Fred).
And' easily imaginable the climate of decadence and of I degrade that you/he/she had to reign in the city in such period: monuments, boundaries towns, public and private buildings, in state of abandonment and paupers of restauration.
The stories of end century and of the beginning of the following one, tied up to the Napoleonic enterprises, I am common to a lot of Italian cities and they involved for Urbino - besides the suppression of churches, convents and religious institutes - a nth impoverishment of his/her own artistic patrimony with the destruction of some works (sculptures in bronze, fused for military purposes) and the deportation of others toward Milan, before among the whole famous Madonna with his/her Child and Saints, of Peter of the Francesca that will become the famous one 'Shovel of Brera.'
