Italia Gallica sive Gallia Cisalpina

Detailed map of northern Italy from the 17th century, based on Ortelius.

This stunning map from the mid-17th century shows the northern portion of Italy between the Ligurian and Adriatic Seas. The rugged topography of the Alps is depicted pictorially and the numerous rivers and lakes throughout the region have been somewhat exaggerated in size. The map, which shows the area in Roman times, includes several notable urban centers like Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Nice, Milan and Bologna. Several early Roman roads are shown, such as the Aurelia via Antonino along the southern coast.

In addition to physical, political, and geographic features, three decorative cartouches are included within the image. Two list names of towns and tribes for which the author has no definitive location, and the third contains the title and distance scale.

The map was engraved by Pieter van den Keere (Petrus Kaerius) and published by Jan Jansson, who based the image on an earlier map by Abraham Ortelius (duly credited in beneath the title). Blank on verso.