Early bird’s-eye view of Bologna

An early 'map-view' of Bologna, published for the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, the first atlas of printed town plans This map derived form an earlier copper engraving published by Claudio Duchetti in 1582. The fortified city with moats and walls is shown from he north. Depicted at the centre there are various towers belonging to the major families, att the height of constructioins, during the middle ages, there were up to 180 towers. The Palazzo Comunale is one of the largest building in Pïazza Maggiore , which was intermittently under construction from 1287. On eof the largest church, San Petronio, appears above to the right. The massive university complex is discernible in a 16th-century palazzo between two arterial street.