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.

JOE CORNISH is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest contemporary landscape photographers. He has lectured and exhibited in Britain and overseas, led workshops and written a number of successful books, including Scotland's Coast and Scotland's Mountains, both published by Aurum, and The Northumberland Coast with Frances Lincoln. His first job for the National Trust was the 1990 book In Search of Neptune and he has continued to work freelance for the Trust ever since. In 2006 Amateur Photographer honoured him with their annual Power of Photography award, and in 2008 he was made an honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.

June Osborne lectures throughout the UK on Urbino and has led a course at Oxford University on 'Palaces and Courts of the Renaissance'. She was formerly the research assistant of Ernst Gombrich, and has written various books including Stained Glass in England, Hampton Court Palace and John Piper and Stained Glass.