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Ancona Civitas Piceni Celeberrima, ad Mare Adriaticum Posita - Braun & Hogenberg ,1572-1624.



Bird's-eye plan of Ancona with key to locations.

TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT: Ancona, famous city in Picenum on the Adriatic, is embellished by a most excellent harbour: there is namely none more commodious or spacious in all Italy. It takes its name from its location, which resembles the crook of an elbow. It is famed for its trade and has an abundance of grain and wine and all other necessities of life: it is redolent everywhere of great age.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Ancona lies on a promontory that runs down to the Adriatic. And as Pliny and Pomponius Mela testify, it is called Ancona, or in Greek Ancon, due to its shape, which looks like a bent elbow. This city has a convenient, magnificent and large harbour, the likes of which is not to be found anywhere else in Italy. The harbour is naturally situated and is well fortified by human skill against all attacks by enemies; hence not by chance the saying: "Only in Rome is there St Peter's, only in Cremona a tower and only in Ancona a harbour."

Ancona is seen here from Adriatic in bird's-eye view. The curved natural harbour full of ships in front of the city and the well-ordered fields on the hills behind are particularly evident. On a rocky promontory on the far left lies the Romanesque cathedral of San Ciriaco (1), which dominates the city and the port. The city's notable Gothic churches include San Francesco which its attached monastery (15, left) and San Agostino (32, centre). (Taschen)

Copper engraving
Size: 34 x 48cm (13.3 x 18.7 inches)
Verso text: Latin
Condition: Small printer's crease, nice old colour.
Condition Rating: B+
References: Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.112.

From: Civitates Orbis Terrarum, ... Part 1. Köln, 1572-1624.

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Item number: 17620
Price: 450 Euro

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