Cracovia Metropolis Regni Poloniae.

Rare panoramic view of Cracow, only included in volume 6 of "Civitates Orbis Terrarum". This edition without text on verso.
The "Civitates Orbis Terrarum" , is the earliest systematic city atlas. Its six parts were published in the years between 1572 and 1618.
The view is one of the most excellent pieces in this work.
A copperplate engraved plate in fine original coloring, measuring over a meter, apart from its artistic significance, it also has a great cognitive value. The work was created from several drafts, which were made from various places chosen in such a way that each was always situated to the North - West of the previously depicted part of the city.
The cognitive value of the panorama cannot be overestimated, as it shows clearly and accurately the topography of Cracow, its neighboring towns of Kazimierz and Kleparz, as well as the suburbs and the nearest vicinity. Apart from the buildings, often depicted with great care of architectural detail, it also shows the network of roads, rivers, suburban fields, gardens and broad pastures, as well as the details of everyday occupations of the inhabitants, such as craftsmen going on their raft down the Vistula River.
In the foreground we can see the royal pageant with the king moving from Wawel Castle to his country residence in Lobzów.At the right top corner, we find the legend with the names of ten buildings. The names of fifty one other buildings are mentioned next to them.
There are also the names of the Vistula and Rudawa rivers, of some roads and landscape fragments.
Over the drawing there are six coats of arms. Those of the towns of Kleparz, Cracow and Kazimierz are placed over the respective towns, next to their Latin names (Clepardia, Cracovia, Casimiria), and dominating over Wawel, the royal residence, are (from the left) the Snake of the Sforzas, the Eagle and the Lithuanian "Chase".
It is also worth noticing that the view presents Cracow with gothic - renaissance architecture. We can see the steep, gothic roofs of the churches and decorative renaissance finials - attics, in the contemporary panorama of the city, it is the baroque domes that dominate.