Urbania territory had its first settlements in the classic age: the Roman town hall of uUrbinum metaurense, situated 6 Km far from the nowadays town, was actually destroyed by the Goti in 535 and 553 AD . Since the beginning of Christianity (VI-VII cent.) the area has got more churches, convents. The first name of the town was Castel delle Ripe, it was destroyed twice, during the XIII cent. by the town of Urbino. Rebuilt in 1282 by Papa Martino IV it was called Casteldurante. In 1367 Casteldurante was the capital of the Massa Trabaria and since 1424 was part of the Urbino Ducat with the Montefeltro and Della Rovere families. In constant conflict with Urbino, was promoted diocese in 1636, taking the nowadays name of Urbania (from Papa Urbano II) since then it belonged to the Pontificio State.

Municipal Palace, rebuilt at half XVI cent.

The territory and economic activities

In the Urbania municipality the valley has grown and the aspect is characterized by the alluvial valley and by the hills that surround it. The countryside presents remains of the ancient way of cultivating and this contributes to the pleasant aspect of the territory, but still the agricultural system is modern especially in the close valley.
These late ten years the town has undergone an industrial process especially in the jeans production, typographies and furniture industries as well.
Fortunately this improvements have been made respecting the environment and Urbania still maintains its touristic flux, and together with the monuments and art works, it gives the chance to visit the ceramic laboratories that mark the tradition of the Renaissance ceramic of Casteldurante.

The centre has architectural buildings of different ages. The ancient Torre Campanaria is in Roman style, Gothic is the ancient main door of the Church of the Dead (that contains the mummies cemetery); but the most substantial presence is Renaissance: the Ducal Palace dominating the town (XV-XVI) residence of the Urbino Dukes, The public library (founded by Francesco II della Rovere); the building has even the civic museum and the museo della civilta' contadina in it. 1 k. Far from there, there is the hunting residence of the Dukes ; restored by the architect Girolamo Genga in '500, was transformed by the monks Zoccolanti in the half of XVIII cent. The Corpus Domini oratory presents Renaissance remains. (The most important come from the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino). In Santa Caterina church we have remains of Gothic style, while the San Giovanni Battista del Parco and San Francesco offer examples of Vanvitellian architecture. The Cathedral stands on the remains of the ancient Abbey church of S. Cristoforo del Ponte (IX cent.) and it was restored several times: the major intervent was operated by the architect Giuseppe Tosi (half '700), while the front side is dated 1870 and the new bell tower 1958. attached to the bell tower is the Episcopal Palace (XIV-XV cent.)today Diocesi Museum. Other important buildings are the Municipality Palace rebuilt at half XVI cent ), the Prepositura Palace and the Palazzetto del Monte di Pieta'(both XV cent).

The Ducal Palace, today library and civic museum site

The very rich art patrimony is kept in the main two museums (Civic and Diocesi) and in the numerous churches, we give a list of them:

• The prophets and the sibyls frescos by Raffaellino del Colle (1540)
• Cristo risorto e la Madonna del velo, by Raffaellino del Colle
• L'ultima cena canvases by Giorgio Picchi 1586
• Cristo Morto, wooden sculptures (XV cent.) by the carvers of the Alta Valle del Metauro

Federico Barocci, la Madonna delle nuvole (end XVI cent.)particular. Holy crucifix church

• collection of ceramics of Casteldurante and modern majolicas by Federico Melis;
• collection of drawings and carvings by Italian German and French artists XVI- XVII cent;
• picture gallery with works by Claudio Ridolfi, Domenico Peruzzini, Federico Zuccari etc.;
• globes by Gherardo Mercatone(1541-1551).

Diocesi museum in the Episcopal palace:

• an important collection of ceramics of Casteldurante;
• picture gallery.

Little jug of Casteldurante(half XVI cent.)Civic Museum

Apollo follows Daphne Piatto Guido Durantino(1524 circa)Casteldurante or Urbino, diocese museum

• Sega la vecchia (half Lent);
• Aflower of the city: end of April;
• Summer evenings(June/September);
• San Cristoforo patron day(July);
• ), Lyric concert in mid-august;
• National review of the Poliphonic choirs (September);
• Women fiera (October, The Sunday after San Luca);
• Poem Award of Metauro (November).