{"product_id":"urbino-the-story-of-a-renaissance-city","title":"Urbino: The Story of a Renaissance City","description":"\u003cp\u003eDuring the Renaissance  the Italian city of Urbino rivaled Florence and Siena as a center of art  culture  and commerce. Chances are youve never heard of itbut you should have. Raphael was born there. Piero della Francesca painted his famous The Flagellation there. And the citys exquisite Ducal Palace  its twin towers piercing the sky  remains a striking monument to grace and power. Yet despite all its past glory and present charm  Urbino is practically unknown to tourists today.  With Urbino: The Story of a Renaissance City  art historian June Osborne brings to life not only the great city and its art but also its turbulent history and the intrigue surrounding its ruling family. First settled by the ancient Umbrians  Urbino reached its zenith during the fifteenth century under the rule of Duke Federico da Montefeltro and his son Guidobaldo. Federico may have been a usurper and a fierce  opportunistic warlord  but his lust for power was more than matched by his passion for great art. Indeed it was under his direct guidance that the magnificent Ducal Palace was builtits perfectly proportioned courtyard a wonder of early Renaissance architecture.  Today the Ducal Palace hosts the National Gallery of the Marches  one of the most important art galleries in Italy  featuring works by no lesser lights than Raphael  Uccello  Piero della Francesca  and Titian. Exploring such sites as the fourteenth-century Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista and the Gothic Church of San Domenico  Osborne captures not only the startling beauty of Urbino and the Apennine foothills but also the tumultuous legacy of Frederico and his son (and their many wives and courtiers).  With over a hundred lavish color photographs  many by renowned landscape photographer Joe Cornish  Urbino is the bestand the onlyguide to this gem of the Italian Marches.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44985067175989,"sku":"ByrdShop_0226637638","price":229.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780226637631.jpg?v=1770845096","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/urbino-the-story-of-a-renaissance-city","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}