Urbino and Raphael's Artisans

S1, E2: Perched on the hills of the Marche overlooking the Adriatic sea, a stone's throw away from the beaches of Rimini and opposite San Marino, the sumptuous Urbino was able to contend with Florence to the throne of the Renaissance capital. Thanks to the Duke of Montefeltro: warrior and patron. Grace was born here in painting: Raffaello Sanzio, who never left his beloved city. The artisans of today behave as if they still worked for the Duke; whether it is making sumptuous costumes, lithographs, etchings, the precious ducal stars, elegant and fascinating polyhedra, or whether it is dyeing fabrics with woad, a grass capable of giving a special blue tone in use since the time of the Duke. But there is also a peculiar craftsmanship in Urbino: the construction of kites, which fly by the thousands in its sky in September in a competition between districts. Following in the steps of its passionate and friendly artisans, in Urbino you run the risk of taking your place in a time machine, to find yourself face to face with the Duke in the Palazzo Ducale.