The grotto or oratory of the cathedral of Urbino is dated back to the beginning of the 16th century. It is also called ‘Oratorio del Santissimo Crocifisso della Grotta’ (Oratory of the Holiest Cross of the Grotto). While I was doing some research, I found out there is not too much in English which I find a pity. It is an interesting and very worth to see place!
It is part of the ticket when you go visiting the Palazzo Ducale opposite of the cathedral of Urbino. But you can enter also only to this place. The entrance is on the left side when you stand in front of the portal of the duomo.
Going down the many stairs first you will note the portrait of the two hooded monks under a cross. I was thinking about the Klu-Klux-Klan because they don’t have faces, want to be unrecognized. I don’t know the meaning of it.
We took the ticket for a few euros and then had a look into the four chapels.
Originally the underground chambers were built to fill a gap between the cathedral’s foundation and the hill. Initially it was used as a magazine of the stables of the Palazzo Ducale. But in the beginning of the 16th century the Duke Guidobaldo da Montefeltro donated two of the rooms to the cathedral. The priests transformed them in two chapels. During the work they found a cross which they thought ‘magic’. The confraternity took the name of ‘Santissimo Crocifisso della Grotta’
There are four chambers today, four chapels.
One is for the Nativity where we could see a scene made in 1682 and a beautiful ceiling.
The second is the chapel of the cross which was reconstructed after a damaging earthquake in 1789. Here we could admire the cross which was found here. It’s dated to the 15th century. Further there is the tomb of Federico Ubaldo della Rovere, last Duke of Urbino.
The third chapel is the Resurrection. Here there is a sculpture of Giovanni Bandini, the ‘Pietà’, created around 1500. Some frescoes and other beautiful decorations complete the room.
The last chapel, the fourth, is about the burial. Here we find s few sculptures of the 15th century showing the death of Christ.
It is definitely a place not to miss when sight seeing in Urbino. You can go after the visit in the cathedral or with the ticket of the Palazzo Ducale opposite. And in summer during lunchtime it’s wonderful fresh here in as well…
Urbino, Le Marche/Italy:
For further information:
Urbino website
