"Felsina, sive Bononia Antiqua...", Blaeu, Johannes

The source for this rare plan of ancient Bologna is Ovidio Montalbano, a Bolognese polymath. The plan depicts the town surrounded by walls with Palazzo Pretorio con i Pub. Portici at its center. It extends to show the town's outskirts, which include a Boii camp/Roman arena and a circus with a charioteer making laps, and an additional outer ring of fortifications. There is a key running along the bottom that identifies sites of note by category, including arches, columns and statues, palaces, baths, roads, theaters, and temples. The town's water supply system is rendered in excellent detail. The title refers to the town's original Etruscan name, Felsina, and to its name under Roman rule, Bononia.

This plan was published in Blaeu's town book of Italy in 1663, and later republished by Pierre Mortier in 1704 and 1705 and by Rutgert Alberts in 1724. Latin text on verso.

References: Phillips (Atlases) #4039-15; Shirley (BL Atlases) T.BLA-4a.

Condition: B

On a watermarked sheet that has been remargined on all sides with old paper. There are tiny wormholes at left that are only visible when held to light and some paper weakness around the centerfold.