Specific figures for Urania's engine performance have not survived, but the ships of her class had top speeds of 18.1 to 20.8 knots (33.5 to 38.5 km/h; 20.8 to 23.9 mph) at 3,884 to 4,422 indicated horsepower (2,896 to 3,297 kW).

[3] During the 1893 fleet maneuvers, Urania served with the 2nd Division of the Reserve Squadron, along with the ironclad Castelfidardo, the protected cruiser Stromboli, and four torpedo boats.

These included her sister ships Partenope, Aretusa, Euridice, Iride, Minerva, and Caprera, the four Goito-class cruisers, and Tripoli.

[5] The ship was assigned to the 2nd Division of the main fleet in 1897, initially along with the three Ruggiero di Lauria-class ironclads and the protected cruisers Etna and Stromboli.

[7] In 1899, Urania was assigned to the 2nd Division of the main fleet, which consisted of the ironclads Affondatore, Castelfidardo, and Sicilia and her sister ship Partenope.

The 2nd Division was usually kept in reserve, which amounted to three months of active service per year, with the rest of the time spent in harbor with reduced crews.

[8] At the start of the Italo-Turkish War in September 1911, Urania was stationed in Italy, alternating between the ports of La Spezia and Naples, along with her sister ships Iride and Caprera.