Itinerarium Italiae Nov-Antiquae…

1640

de Beer Gc 1640 Z

Frankfurt: Matthaei Merians

This 17th century engraving lays out Rome of that time replete with some still familiar landmarks. The Vatican and St Peter’s Square spread out at the bottom left; the bush-covered ruins of the Baths of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (245-311), top centre-left; the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the world sits top centre-right; Tiber Island floats boat-like in the middle of the river, centre right; and the whole city is surrounded by fortified walls punctuated by gates or porta leading in and out of the city. Today up to ten million tourists visit Rome each year.