Perched in the foothills of the Appennines, the twin towers of its Ducal Palace piercing the sky like a pair of giant pencils, the city of Urbino is visible history. June Osborne traces the history of the city back to its Roman origins and goes on to paint a colourful panorama of Renaissance Italy, detailing the rivalries and treacheries between dukes, princes, emperors and popes that were fought out during this period. She explains how Urbino emerged to become the wealthiest and most illustrious court in Europe, a magnet for artists and writers such as Piero della Francesca, Paolo Uccello and Torquato Tasso. This is the first book solely on Urbino to be published, making it essential reading for anyone with an interest in Italian art or history.