Doors of Urbino

[fumobici]

Indulging my door fetish part due.

Here we move from the last door tour in the extreme North of Umbria and cross the Apennines to visit North central Marche and the lovely hilltop university city of Urbino.























(More to come)

[fumobici]

[fumobici]

OK, this one costs three Euro to go into since it's Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino or as we friends call him, Raphael the painter's birth house. Love to give you a tour but it cost three Euro and I'm not made outta money you know!

Peek in the door:

[bixaorellana]

I am so happy you suffer from this fetish, Fumobici! These are great, and do feel quite different from the last group. I love how you arranged them with the colorful ones last. My eyes were all rested from the more subtle colors of the brick, and the warmth at the end was a nice surprise.

It looks as though all the streets are made of brick -- true?

[fumobici]

Yes, they are. The order is essentially random insofar is it is chronological. This is just a counterclockwise stroll around the town beginning just S of the Palazzo Ducale and ending at the Porta Valbona. These points also represent probably the two most iconic doors of Urbino which I somehow neglected to include. Therefore,

Door, Palazzo Ducale:



Porta Valbona:

[bixaorellana]

Incredible brickwork!

Is the Porta Valbona an entrance to the old walled city?

[fumobici]

Yes, in fact the only porta I saw in Urbino. River towns often have four , hill towns often only one.

[Deleted]

My nephew turned out to have a door fetish on his recent trip to Europe. I find something interestingly symbolic about this.

In any case, your photos are great!

[spindrift]

I very much enjoyed the tour. The very large doors open into courtyards, don't they?

I shall return to this thread. I like to see the brickwork and how stonework has been arranged over the door entrances.

I hadn't though about it before but it makes sense that fortified hill towns only have one gate and those on the plains have four. I live in a town that had at least four, perhaps five.

[Deleted]

Fabulous photos,a real treat. Thank you for this.

[lola]

Oh, my, yes. Doors with dignity. Beautiful, fumobici. Thanks.

In ones like that right above the Raphael sign: how tall are the split small doors?

I saw two sets of doors last week at the College of Wooster OH that would make you at least pause, if not whip out your camera.

[fumobici]

Nov 14, 2009 11:28:30 GMT spindrift said:

I very much enjoyed the tour. The very large doors open into courtyards, don't they?

Often but surprisingly not always, considering what I was told their purpose was, which was to allow a mounted rider to pass through.

In ones like that right above the Raphael sign: how tall are the split small doors?

Those were maybe 2,5 m in height at most, not especially so.

[bixaorellana]

Is it possible there were courtyards there when the doors were built, but they've been closed in at some time?

[auntieannie]

beautiful pictures! And we also learn through your tour that Raffaello was born in Urbino. If I read well?

[Deleted]

It's good that you've posted a collection that various so much, from the very elegant to the most neglected of doors!

[bixaorellana]

Thought I'd bounce this lovely thread back up. Fumobici recently treated us to more doors of Perugia. Any more of Urbino, Fumo? Well, I know I'd be happy with any door shots you have.

[fumobici]

OK,Bixa. I do have a few more photos of Urbino- not featuring doors no less!

We'll start at il capoluogo, the piazza shared with both the duomo and the famous palazzo ducale.





















And then just stroll about some...









This is la piazza fontana:









Let's give this pope a hand shall we?





At the North end of town in a pretty little park looking out from the town wall there's a tribute to Urbino's most famous son Raphael.









Much of the university is in the centro storico within the ancient town walls but it has of necessity had to expand outside:

[bixaorellana]

My gosh, you got some glowingly beautiful pictures! The fourth one down in this series is perfect, and that's saying something considering the company it's in.

I know that volumes must have been written about that golden stone and the light it seems to emanate, but it's impossible not to marvel at it.

And all that glory is achieved with mostly classical, even severe lines -- stunning.

What's the deal with the wooden base around the fountain, please? And the very precise, finished little squares in some of the brick walls? Also, and I feel that I should know this bit of history -- what's the papal connection? I have some vague, ungraspable memory about 'the popes of Urbino', but ....

Stick that pic of the sports car looking over the Renaissance landscape into a travel brochure, and people would be ripping their pockets pulling out their wallets.

Thanks so much for this, Fumobici -- most enjoyable.

[Deleted]

It just keeps getting better -- a really lovely city. I like the last conglomeration of architecture, which implies various improvizational additions over the centuries.

[nycgirl]

I also adore that lovely orange dome and have been trying to think of a descriptive enough adjective to describe that hue. Saffron? Well anyway, it's gorgeous.

I love the other shots of the buildings, they are beautifully lit. I also love the lonesome alley shots. Urbino looks like a charming place.