The exhibition-event of the year (“world-famous in Urbino”, quoting Mel Brook’s To be or not to be – “he’ s world-famous in Poland!”) seems to be the Ideal City – the Renaissance utopia in Urbino between Piero della Francesca and Raphael inaugurated on Thursday 5th and – starting from yesterday – open to the public (from April 6th to July 8th 2012).
I am sorry for starting this post with some kind of sour irony (“world-famous in Urbino”), but when I think of how many important bodies are involved (the Regione Marche, the Ministery for Cultural Works and Activities, the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, the Municipality of Urbino, just to quote a few of them), I would have expected to hear about the exhibition in advance on medias (TVs, newspapers, web). Instead, the event was managed – up till now – in such a discreet way, that while planning to go and visit the exhibition, I could not but help thinking: “will I be intruding?”.
Anyway, the exhibition is organized on the 100th anniversary of the National Gallery (the most important museum in the Marche, hosted by the Ducal Palace) and falls on a season full of artistical events in our region as the Museum Festival, Happy Museum, the national project for the bicentenary of the opening to the public of Monaldo Leopardi’s library (Giacomo Leopardi’s father) in Recanati, and other events.
Apparently, one of the strong points of the exhibition is the perfect likeness between the exhibiting area and the works displayed.
The aim of the event, according to the organizers, seems to be that of showing how the painted panel, known as the “Ideal City”, is – together with its two twin subjects in Baltimore and Berlin – the synthesis of the Renaissance civilization which flourished in Urbino and in the Montefeltro area in the second half of the 15th century, thanks to Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino.
Next to the “Ideal City” – and to its similar work hosted by the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, the visitor will be able to admire about 80 works: paintings, sculptures, drawings, medals, etc. which fully display the fortunate Renaissance period lived by Urbino, in a very peculiar area among Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and Romagna.
Close to world-famous (this time with no shade of irony!) works of art hosted by the National Gallery in Urbino, you will see works by Domenico Veneziano, Piero della Francesca, Fra’ Carnevale, Leon Battista Alberti, Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Luca Signorelli, Mantegna, Perugino, Bramante and Raphael.
www.mostracittaideale.it
tel. 199.75.75.18
Opening hours:
From Tue. to Sun.: 8.30 am – 7.30 pm (la biglietteria closes at 6.00 pm)
Mon.: 8.30 am – 2.00 pm (la biglietteria closes at 12.30 pm)
Mon. April 13th and June 1st: 8.30 am- 7-15 pm
I would not suggest you go during Easter time: Urbino is always so crowded in that time of the year.
I myself will be going on a Tuesday morning, in the month of May. Will write back after seeing the exhibition with my own eyes.
wherelemonsblossom.wordpress.com 
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