Welcome to Urbino
Raphael's Renaissance 'hood, the vibrant university town of Urbino is often the first stop on a trip to Le Marche, and understandably so. The patriarch of the Montefeltro family, Duca Federico da Montefeltro, created the hippest art scene of the 15th century here, gathering the great artists, architects and scholars of his day to create a sort of think tank. The town's splendour was made official by Unesco, which deemed the entire city centre a World Heritage Site in 1998.
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Urbino activities
Private walking tour of Urbino with a local guide
Discover an idyllic hill town in the Italian region of Marche where houses and palaces of weathered brick and pantiles cluster around steep narrow streets, surrounded by misty mountains and green and yellow hills, like the background of a Leonardo portrait. Maybe you didn't know it but, because it is on the opposite side of the Apennines to the more famous Florence and Siena, Urbino has been half-forgotten by tourists and art lovers. What a shame!In its time – the 15th and 16th centuries – Urbino was one of the cultural capitals of the Renaissance and it also represents, even now, a quite unique and picturesque university town.During this private your you'll explore the famous University of Urbino, Piazza del Rinascimento, the church of San Domenico, the dome, the monumert to the great Raffaello and the beautiful Ducal Palace. Get ready to take amazing pictures of this real hidden Italian gem!
Renaissance Rome Private Tour: Realm of Raphael with Borghese Gallery Ticket
Raphael was the most prolific High Renaissance master. A highly proficient painter in youth, he honed his skills in Siena and Florence before flourishing in Rome. Raphael incurred the wrath of Michelangelo and tried to save the Roman Forum as prefect of antiquities under Leo X. Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, Urbino being the name of the town where he was born some 145 kms outside Rome (region of Marche), died on his 37th birthday (April 6th) in 1520. Entombed in the Pantheon and revered as much today as in his prime, Raphael lived and worked at the same time as his contemporary and main rival, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. Our private Raphael tour in Rome explains how the paintings in the Sistine Chapel interwove his life with that of Michelangelo and the young Raphael's mentor, Perugino, both of whom he imitated in order to create his own inimitable style. We see the works of art he created in Rome, we explore his skills as a draftsman, and we unravel the complex nature of his relationships (and untimely demise from syphilis). Born into the Court of Urbino with enviable ascribed status, Raphael, the great imitator, became the greatest High Renaissance master. A painter of immense natural ability, he possessed an unquenchable desire to learn. Family background and social status proffered him unlimited access to the works and workshops of his contemporaries, which almost certainly helped him get acquainted with patrons and powerful contacts during his career. Having learned from his painter and courtier father Giovanni Santi, then becoming a master in the court aged 17 years, Raphael spent time in Siena with Pinturicchio, Città di Castello where he learned from Signorelli, and then Florence where he was greatly influenced by Da Vinci, before moving to Rome. Donato Bramante, who was related to Raphael, prompted Pope Julius II to introduce the young rising star to Rome, where he lived until his death. Raphael's creations in the Vatican, which continued under Medici Pope Leo X after the death of Julius II in 1513, are of course his best known commissions. In addition to studying the magnificent Raphael Rooms (Vatican Museums), we visit Villa Farnesina, Church of Santa Maria della Pace, the Chigi Chapel (Church of Santa Maria del Popolo), and Church of Sant'Ignazio to round off this fascinating, in-depth private Raphael tour in Rome. You will see the following paintings; "Loggia of Cupid and Psyche" (1517), "Creation of the World" (1516), "The Sibyls" (1514), "The Triumph of Galatea" (1512), and all Raphael's works in the Vatican Museums. In the Borghese Gallery (self-guided) you will see and learn about "Portrait of a Man" (1502), "Young Woman with Unicorn" (1506), and "The Deposition of Christ" (1508).
Florence - Private Tour of the Uffizi Gallery (Skip the Line)
The Uffizi Gallery – formerly an administrative office – is home to a breath-taking collection of art, ranging from Botticelli’s Venus to Caravaggio’s Bacchus. On this 2 and a half private tour, you’ll enjoy a chronological journey through art history, seeing some of the greatest masterpieces in Western art and learning the stories behind the paintings in the company of your personal guide, an art historian.Your private tour of the Uffizi begins in the medieval era. The great innovator was Giotto, whose sublime Ognissanti Madonna is on display here. While the Byzantine influence is clear, with its gold background and hierarchical layout, you’ll also appreciate how Giotto was ahead of his time, creating remarkably realistic and three dimensional figures – a precursor for Renaissance realism. You’ll also see the famous medieval masterpiece the Battle of San Romano, by Florentine artist Paolo Uccello.The room containing paintings by Botticelli is arguably the highlight in a gallery full of gems. You will see the beautiful Venus and Primavera and discover their secret symbolism, as well as learning more about Botticelli’s mysterious life and his reputation as an “outsider”.The exploration of Renaissance art continues with Titian’s sumptuous and sensual Venus of Urbino, and Michelangelo’s portrait of the holy family known as the Doni Tondo. This magnificent work by the mature Michelangelo has attracted a multitude of different interpretations, and on your Uffizi tour you will discover why this ambiguous painting continues to fascinate its viewers. Other highlights include Leonardo da Vinci’s the Annunciation and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch.Paintings take a darker turn in the Baroque with Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith and Holofernes. Gentileschi was a rare example of a successful female artist in the early 17th century, whose work shocked and captivated in equal measure. Inspired by the work of Caravaggio and her own traumatic experiences, Gentileschi’s Judith and Holofernes is a violent and powerful work. Works by Caravaggio, the Baroque master, are other highlights of the Uffizi tour; his decadent Bacchus and striking Medusa are remarkable portraits.Join an exclusive private tour of the Uffizi in Florence for an unforgettable journey through centuries of art history.