Original antique map of Sena (now Sienna) in Tuscany. It emphasizes the city’s dramatic topography, dense urban fabric, and defensive character. Siena is shown perched on a series of steep ridges, with streets radiating along the contours of the hills rather than following a regular grid. This irregular layout reflects medieval growth shaped by terrain rather than Renaissance planning ideals.
The city is enclosed by continuous walls punctuated by gates, underscoring Siena’s long-standing concern with security and territorial control. Beyond the walls, cultivated fields, vineyards, and roads situate the city within its rural hinterland, highlighting its dependence on surrounding agricultural resources. Inside the walls, tightly packed buildings form compact neighbourhoods, while major streets converge toward central civic and religious spaces.
Prominent landmarks are clearly depicted and keyed to extensive legends along the margins. Churches, monasteries, palaces, and civic institutions dominate the skyline, with the cathedral complex standing out as a visual and symbolic focal point. Towers and fortified structures reinforce Siena’s identity as a proud, independent city with a strong communal tradition.
Overall, the map conveys Siena as a fortified hill city defined by topography, institutional density, and historical continuity, balancing practical description with an image of civic strength and cohesion.
Matthäus Merian was born in Switzerland but eventually settled in Frankfurt. He was trained as an engraver and he married into the publishing family of De Bry who were highly influential publishers of travel and other illustrated books. In 1623 Merian took control of the business, taking it to new heights. He continued to publish editions of Theodore de Bry's Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages, first issued in 1590, but Merian was also famous for his “Topographia”, a multi-volume series describing the regions of Germany, richly illustrated with town plans and views, as well as maps, and his small folio world atlases, containing maps and views of all parts of the world. This detailed birds-eye plan of Siena was form one of these publications. Interestingly, it includes the Medici Coat of Arms in the bottom left hand corner.
