An economical accommodation option, although you need to stay more than 3 nights, is a room in a private house . You can get hold of a list at the tourist office but during term time you will be competing with the many students who lodge with families, so be sure to book in advance. Prices vary but expect to pay about the same as for a two-star hotel (price band L60,000/a?¬30.99-L120,000/a?¬61.98). Otherwise, the cheapest hotel is the Fosca , Via Raffaello 67 (tel 0722.2542; up to L60,000/a?¬30.99), a small studenty pensione on the top floor of a residential palazzo in the old town, (if the owner isn't there, call 0722.329.622 and someone will be along). Other good options are recently renovated Italia , Corso Garibaldi 32 (tel 0722.2701; L60,000-90,000/a?¬30.99-46.48), and San Giovanni , Via Barocci 13 (tel 0722.2827; closed July; L60,000-90,000/a?¬30.99-46.48), in the old town. This sixteenth-century Patrician house known as Palazzo della Spillara is a lovely old-style hotel with very courteous service and its own restaurant serving typical Marche dishes. Hotel Raffaello , Via Santa Margheria 38/40 (tel 0722.4784 or 0722.4896, www.poliedrosnc.com/hotelraffaellourbino ; L150,000-200,000/a?¬77.47-103.29) behind the Casa di Raffaello in the old town, has wide views over the pantiled roofs of Urbino. This former seminary provides 3-wheelers to pick up guests and luggage from the lower town. Alternatively try old-fashioned Boncorte , Via delle Mura 28 (tel 0722.2463, www.viphotels.it ; L250,000-300,000/a?¬129.11-154.94) just inside the city walls with views over the countryside. Breakfast is served in the tiny courtyard garden in summer.

If you have a car there are several hotel possiblities on the outskirts of town: Tortorina , Via Tortorina 4 (tel 0722.308.100 or 0722.327.715; L150,000-200,000/a?¬77.47-103.29) is a tourist complex overlooking Urbino and the hills a ten-minute drive to the north of central Urbino with apartments, rooms, a gym and tennis courts. Mamiani , Via Bernini 6 (tel 0722.322.309, www.info-net.it/hotelmamiani ; L250,000-300,000/a?¬129.11-154.94) is chi-chi and corporate but might be good for a night's stay if everything else is full. For a much cheaper and more low-key option with great food and an open-air swimming pool, Balcone sul Metauro at Peglio near Urbania (tel 0722.310.104; L60,000-90,000/a?¬30.99-46.48), a 30-minute drive south-west from Urbino, is a sound choice. There's a campsite , the Pineta (tel 0722.4710, fax 0722.4738; April to mid-Sept), 2km south of Urbino beyond San Bernardino ; bus #4 or #7 drops you close by.