After the ColleMar-athon: Urbino

The Route: Fano → Urbino → Fano Logistics: Regional bus from Fano, about 1 hour each way, to the bus station at Urbino's edge. There is no direct train. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip

Fano ──(1 hr regional bus)──> Urbino bus station ──(walk uphill 10 mins)──> Piazza della Repubblica

Urbino sits on two hills about 40 km inland from Fano, and it is the kind of town that was mostly designed in one go. In the fifteenth century Duke Federico da Montefeltro turned it into a court of scholars and painters, and the result is a town of brick and pale stone, with a palace at its heart. It is also very steep. On the day after a marathon, plan to sit down often.

May in Urbino: cooler than the coast by several degrees, with daytime temperatures often in the high teens and some rain. The town is at about 450 m, so it can feel fresh in the morning.

Regional buses run between Fano and Urbino, and a route via Pesaro is an alternative. Check the operator's Monday timetable at the bus station or online, and note the last bus back. Buy the ticket at the station or on board where allowed.

The day

From the bus station, the streets climb into the town. Take the lift or a slow walk, and stop at the benches. The main square, Piazza della Repubblica, is at the town's crossroads.

The Palazzo Ducale is the reason to come. It was built for Federico da Montefeltro and now holds the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, one of the country's best collections of Renaissance art. It includes paintings by Piero della Francesca and Raphael, who was born in Urbino. Check the opening days, the ticket price and whether the museum is closed on Mondays. Inside, the floors are level but there are many stairs.

Raphael's birthplace, the Casa Natale di Raffaello, is a short walk from the square. Check its hours and entry fee.

For lunch, Urbino is known for crescia sfogliata, a flatbread stuffed with meats and greens, and for cheeses from the surrounding hills. Book a table in one of the side streets and check that it is open on a Monday.

The town's medieval walls can be reached on the western side and the views of the hills are wide. The paths are on a gradient, so take a short section only.

Getting back

Walk down to the bus station and take the bus back to Fano. Check the last departure. If you plan to stay a night, book a hotel in the old town and confirm that it is open in May.