Urbania

Urbania is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region of Marche, located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) west of Ancona and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest of Pesaro, next to the river Metauro. Urbania borders the following municipalities: Acqualagna, Apecchio, Cagli, Fermignano, Peglio, Piobbico, Sant'Angelo in Vado, Urbino. It is a famous ceramics and majolica production centre. In recent years, it has become more closely associated with the Befana folk tradition. History Originally known as Castel delle Ripe, it was a free commune of the Guelph party. In 1277 it was destroyed by the Ghibellines, then rebuilt by the Provençal Guillaume Durand in 1284 and christened Castel Durante. Later it was ruled by the Brancaleoni family. When the latter were ousted, the city offered itself to the Dukes of Urbino, who used the palace in the city as summer residence and had it restored by architects such as Francesco di Giorgio Martini. The last della Rovere duke, Francesco Maria II, is buried in the Ducal Palace of Urbania. In 1631 it became part of the Papal States. Five years later its name changed to the current one, in honor of Pope Urban VIII. On 23 January 1944 Urbania was bombed by the Allies, resulting in the deaths of 250 civilians. It was a Sunday so the people had gathered in the town, increasing the number of victims. After World War II Urbania received the Bronze Medal for Military Valour for the deeds of its citizens during the partisan warfare. Main sights Ducal Palace, housing a museum and a library with globes made by the Flemish-born, German natural scientist Gerardus Mercator between 1541 and 1551. Chiesa dei Morti (Church of the Dead), with 18 natural mummies from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance exposed behind the altar. The medieval walls. The 'Barco Ducale' is one kilometer outside of the town. It was erected in 1465. After an earthquake, it was rebuilt between 1741 and 1771. Normally you can not enter the building. Population History Trivia Urbania features as the main setting of Ci Siamo (ISBN 1-86391-109-X) a textbook for students of Italian used by many Australian students in the middle years of high school. References External links www.comune.urbania.ps.it/