THE GALLERY OF MAPS IN THE VATICAN

One hundred and twenty metres long, the Gallery of Maps was completed in 1580. It was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII and its walls are decorated with thirty-two large maps and eight smaller ones. It is the largest geographical representation ever made, with an incredible abundance of place names, and is adorned with cityscapes and with grandiose battle-scenes. A cycle of fifty-one "miracle scenes" decorates the magnificent ceiling. This is a really extraordinary decorative ensemble, shown here in all its detail for the first time.

Texts by A. Chiggiato, R. Ferri, C. Franzoni, L. Gambi, P. Liverani, M. Milanesi, A. Pinelli, F. Prontera, P. Sereno. Photographs by A. Angeli e D. Pivato.

Text in English and Italian.

Mirabilia Italiæ is a unique series. It owes its existence to an innovative and ambitious project: an atlas of the great monuments of Italy that will display them in all their details, from the best known to the least. This series represents a completely new way of documenting art. Mirabilia Italiæ provides a guided tour of each monument, fully and accurately explained. Each atlas contains hundreds of colour photographs, arranged in a precise topographical sequence and accompanied by diagrams showing the exact location of each detail. The atlas is complemented by a volume of texts edited by the premier scholars in the field, consisting of critical essays and descriptive notes. Essays examine the monument from the art-historical point of view, and record the alterations it has undergone over time. Descriptive notes analyse the content and significance of the images. Extensive cross-references link the essays and notes to the images, facilitating consultation of the work. The General Editor of Mirabilia Italiæ is Salvatore Settis, Director of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.