The Buonsignori map

A city within a map

Drawn by Stefano Buonsignori and etched by Bonaventura Billocardi, the map was published in 1584. Its elevated view brings together monuments, streets, walls, gardens and the countryside in a single depiction of Florence.

Three versions, a continuous comparison

The Harvard Map Collection scan is the starting point. Digital restoration restores visual continuity; the hand-coloured version was developed building by building. The photorealistic reconstruction follows the drawing, informed by architectural research and manual corrections.

Fidelity to the map’s lines and historical plausibility are two considerations that must be brought into dialogue. Reconstruction choices remain interpretations: comparison with the engraving makes both the source and my intervention visible.

How to explore Florence 1584

Open the map from the main page, zoom into details and move through the city. Use the dissolve control to move between versions, or compare two images side by side. On a phone, use your fingers to zoom and pan.

Sources and further reading

Harvard Map Collection, Harvard Library. Source of the reference scan.

• Brown University · Florentine Gazetteer
• Hidden Florence · About the Bonsignori Map