Urbino

Urbino takes 1 day to see: the Ducal Palace, considered one of the most important buildings of the Italian Renaissance and today home to a gallery with works by Raphael and Piero della Francesca, is the center of the visit. April-October is best. It's inexpensive by Italian standards. It was the birthplace of the painter Raphael and, under the patronage of Duke Federico da Montefeltro in the 15th century, became one of the Renaissance's most important cultural centers despite its modest size, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.