1565 Siege map
In a recent article on Birgu written by Lino Bugeja published in your paper, a siege map was published showing Fort St Angelo and Birgu in 1565. It was described as a Venetian map by G.F. Camocio titled Disegno del Porto di Malta. The map reproduced...
In a recent article on Birgu written by Lino Bugeja published in your paper, a siege map was published showing Fort St Angelo and Birgu in 1565. It was described as a Venetian map by G.F. Camocio titled Disegno del Porto di Malta.
The map reproduced has nothing to do with the three Camocio maps of the siege. It is actually a Roman map signed by Antonio Lafreri with the title Ritratto dallo istesso disegno mandato da Malta. There are two variants of this map illustrated on pages 76 and 77 of the second volume of A study in depth of 143 maps representing the Great Siege of Malta of 1565 written by the undersigned with the collaboration of the late Maurice Agius-Vadalà.
Mr Bugeja stated that he was showing the map "by courtesy of Heritage Malta". I have been given to understand that it was taken from a map in my collection entrusted to Heritage Malta, although no reference to such collection was made in the article.