Joan Blaeu (1596–1673). Terra di Lavoro (Southern Italy). 1663

Joan Blaeu (1596–1673)
Terra di Lavoro, olim Campania Felix
From Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Amsterdam, circa 1663
Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Sheet size: 20 ¾ x 16 inches

A superb example of 17th-century Italian cartography from the famed Blaeu publishing house, this map depicts the Terra di Lavoro—a historic region of southern Italy corresponding roughly to modern-day Campania. The area, once known as Campania Felix by the Romans for its fertile lands and temperate climate, is rendered here with remarkable precision and artistic grace.

The map features the Bay of Naples and surrounding coastal towns, including Gaeta, Sessa, and the Gulf of Salerno, as well as inland cities such as Capua and Benevento. Mountains, rivers, and roads are finely delineated, and the Tyrrhenian Sea is animated with ornate ships and sea creatures. Decorative cartouches featuring allegorical figures and regional arms lend grandeur to the composition, reflecting Blaeu's signature fusion of science and artistry.

Blaeu's maps were considered the finest of their era—highly sought after for their geographic accuracy, elegance of design, and sumptuous coloring. This map exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age of cartography, when the Blaeu family set the international standard for printed atlases and maps.

This is a masterful depiction of one of Italy’s most storied regions, offering a window into its classical heritage and early modern geography.