This masterpiece of balance and taste was built from 1444-72 for Duke Federico by architect Luciano Laurana, who took over from Sienese Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Opposite the valley, a high facade adorned with superimposed loggias commands a panoramic view to the west of the old town, while to the east its appearance is more austere. The courtyard is a model of Renaissance harmony. The palace is home to a Lapidary museum and the handsome Galleria Nazionale delle Marche.