Originally, in the early Middle Ages, presumably dating back to the sixth century, Urbania was called Castel delle Ripe. It was destroyed by the Ghibellines of Urbino in 1277. The city was re-built by the Provencal prelate William Durand, governor of the Romagna, on the orders of Pope Martin IV. The task, entrusted to technicians of Bologna, produced the characteristic arcades present along the main streets of the historic center. In his honor, the city took the name of Casteldurante, which became famous for its precious majolica durantine, exhibited in major museums around the world.