Italy: Urbino and Appenine landscape

This photo was taken at the southern end of via Aurelio Saffi, in the old town of Urbino. In the distance are the Appenines, the viewpoint enjoyed by the man (but not appreciated by his dog) is a ravelin on the medieval town walls.

Urbino is the capital of the region of Le Marche. Its heyday was in the 15th century under duke Federico da Montefeltro. Among its other preeminent sons was Raffaello Santi da Urbino (aka Raphael), whose tomb is in Rome's Parthenon.

Urbino houses some of Italy's finest works of renaissance art and architecture, but is not on the general tourist trail because it is a considerable distance from other towns of interest to the tourist. (You need either to take a bus or to have your own transport if you are to get up there.)

The town has a vibrant university; it would be difficult to imagine a more inspirational place in which to pursue one's studies.