Rare Old Map of Liguria & Republic of Genoa by Visscher, 1690: La Spezia, Nice, Turin, Sanremo, Maritime Alps Natural Park

Discover the charm of the past with our exquisite map, 'Liguria, o stato della republica di Genova', translated as 'Liguria, or the state of the Republic of Genoa'. This intricate piece was created by Nicolaes Visscher II in 1690, a prominent figure from the Dutch Golden Age of mapmaking. The map presents a detailed depiction of the regions and political divisions of Liguria and the Republic of Genoa, areas that now form part of modern-day Italy. This is not merely a map, but a piece of history that tells a tale of political boundaries, cityscapes, and natural landscapes from over three centuries ago.

This map, hand-colored and engraved, captures the stunning Ligurian landscape from Nice to La Spezia. It showcases prominent cities such as La Spezia, Nice, Turin, and Sanremo, each with its unique history and cultural significance. Additionally, the Maritime Alps Natural Park, known as Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime in Italian, is beautifully represented, adding a touch of natural allure to the piece.

Nicolaes Visscher II's map is not only a geographical representation but also an artistic masterpiece. It features decorative cartouches, the coat of arms, and vignettes depicting sailing ships at sea, all of which add a layer of historical context and aesthetic appeal. The map's relief is shown pictorially, giving a three-dimensional feel to the mountains, forests, waterways, and canals. It's a true testament to the artistry and precision of the Dutch Golden Age of cartography.

In the world of map collecting, the 'Liguria, o stato della republica di Genova' is a prized piece. Its detailed representation of administrative boundaries, towns, and landmarks, combined with its historical and artistic value, makes it a must-have for any collector. This map does more than just show you the way; it takes you on a journey back in time, immersing you in the rich history and culture of Liguria and the Republic of Genoa. It's more than a map; it's a story, a work of art, and a piece of history all rolled into one.

Some of the significant locations shown on this map:

Republic of Genoa

• Genoa - Known as Genova in Italian, it was the capital of the Republic of Genoa and one of the largest cities in Italy. It was a major economic and naval power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
• La Spezia - A key naval base and home to the Arsenal of La Spezia, it was an important city for maritime trade and military affairs.
• Sanremo - Known for its mild climate and beautiful sea views, it was a popular resort town even in the 17th century.
• Savona - A coastal city known for its port and iron industry.
• Imperia - A city known for its olive production and maritime trade.
• Ventimiglia - A border town known for its strategic location and the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.
• Rapallo - A seaside town known for its beautiful bay and the Castle on the Sea (Castello sul Mare).
• Chiavari - Known for its maritime trade and the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady of the Garden (Cattedrale di Nostra Signora dell'Orto).
• Sestri Levante - A town known for its two bays: Bay of Silence and Bay of Fables.
• Santa Margherita Ligure - A seaside town known for its picturesque harbor and the Basilica of St. Margaret of Antiochia.
• Camogli - A fishing village known for its colorful houses and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta.
• Recco - Known for its gastronomy, especially the focaccia al formaggio.
• Arenzano - A seaside town known for its beautiful beaches and the Sanctuary of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
• Cogoleto - The alleged birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
• Varazze - A seaside town known for its shipbuilding industry.
• Albenga - Known for its well-preserved medieval center and the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel.

Liguria

• Nice - Known as Nizza in Italian, it was a key city in the Duchy of Savoy and a major Mediterranean port.
• Turin - Known as Torino in Italian, it was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy and a major cultural and economic center.
• Cuneo - A city known for its fertile land and the production of wine and cheese.
• Asti - Known for its wine production, especially the sparkling Asti wine.
• Alessandria - A city known for its strategic location and the Citadel of Alessandria, one of the best preserved fortifications of the 18th century.
• Casale Monferrato - Known for its wine production and the beautiful Cathedral of Sant'Evasio.
• Alba - Known for its wine production and the truffle market.
• Bra - Known for its gastronomy, especially the Bra sausage.
• Fossano - A city known for its agricultural production and the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria and San Giovenale.
• Mondovì - Known for its textile industry and the beautiful Cathedral of San Donato.
• Saluzzo - A city known for its well-preserved medieval center and the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Notable Natural Phenomena

• Maritime Alps Natural Park - A stunning natural area known for its diverse flora and fauna.
• River Po - The longest river in Italy, known for its fertile valley.
• Lake Maggiore - One of the largest lakes in Italy, known for its beautiful islands and surrounding landscapes.
• Monte Viso - The highest mountain in the Cottian Alps, known for its distinctive pyramid shape.
• Ligurian Sea - Known for its beautiful coastline and rich biodiversity.

Notable Historical Events (1600-1690)

• The Battle of Meloria (1604) - A naval battle between the fleets of the Republic of Genoa and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
• The Fieschi Conspiracy (1628) - An unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Doge of Genoa by members of the Fieschi family.
• The Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659) - A major conflict that involved the Republic of Genoa and had significant impacts on the region.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x30in (61x76cm), 32x40in (81.5x102cm), 40x50in (102x127cm), 48x60in (122x153cm) and 56x70in (142x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 90in (229cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40.5x51cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps of Europe and European cities to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.