Monday, April 27, 2015

Urbino to San Marino

This morning we drove from our hotel on the outskirts of Orvieto through beautiful countryside, finally leaving Umbria and entering the Marche region. The big attraction is the wonderful Renaissance city of Urbino, and particularly its Palazzo Ducale Museum.


Dramatic sky viewed from the heights of Urbino



Urbino is a university town, with many art students in evidence.



Outdoor cafe in the Palazzo Ducale Museum



Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro, founder of the modern duchy of Urbino in the mid-15th C



Fragment of a striking fresco in the museum, 
this part showing a peasant at the foot of the crucified Christ



Section of the original floor of the Palace, showing the intricate geometry, colors, and wear





Two photos of colors through wavy glass, 
the first of a section of Urbino through a window of the museum,
the second of a painting through a bottle of white wine





Two unusual wildflowers on our walk in the countryside near Urbino



We ended the day with a drive from Urbino up very winding roads 
to the tiny independent (but still very Italian) country of San Marino. 
This view to the east from the top of San Marino shows impending stormy weather.



The walk to our hotel in San Marino is lined with statuary busts (literally).


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