Urbino (; ) is a walled city in the
Marche region of
Italy, south-west of
Pesaro, a
World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent
Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of
Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482. The town, nestled on a high sloping hillside, retains much of its picturesque medieval aspect, an illusion only slightly broken by the large car parks below the town. It hosts the
University of Urbino, founded in 1506, and is the seat of the
Archbishop of Urbino. Its best-known architectural piece is the
Palazzo Ducale, rebuilt by Luciano Laurana.