Genua Ligurum Domina [on sheet with] Florentia Urbs est Insignis Hetruariae, olim Fluentia Dicta.

Two very desirable and early town-views of Genoa and Florence in a second state.
"GENOA (GENOVA): : "The trading port and city of Genoa is presented from an ideal, elevated viewpoint from the south. The layout of the city can be clearly seen as it slopes down to the sea. In the center stands the Romanesque cathedral of San Lorenzo, built in the 13th century. Higher up the hillside lies the Palazzo Ducale. The approximately 80-m-high lighthouse (La Lanterna) on the left is another symbol of the city. Genoa's economic importance is underlined by the volume of shipping in front of the port. 1407 saw the founding in Genoa of the Banco di San Giorgio, which lent money to various monarchs in the early modern era and thereby earned Genoa a critical position within the network of Europe's ruling houses.. . ." (Taschen, Braun, and Hogenberg, p.112.)

FLORENCE (FIRENZE): "The engraving shows Florence from the southwest. On the far side of the Arno, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its impressive cupola (1418-1436) by Filippo Brunelleschi soars above the roofs of the densely packed houses. Visible in front of it are the bell tower, built from 1330 to designs by Giotto, and the Baptistery (11th-12th cent.) with its magnificent bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti (1330-1452). Behind it to the right, as a symbol of secular power, is the Palazzo della Signoria (14th cent.), today, it is known as the Palazzo Vecchio, with its 94-m-high tower. Florence was founded as a Roman colony in Caesar's day when it marked two major trade routes. In the 14th and 15th centuries, it developed into a city of art and culture, attracting many artists and intellectuals, including Sandro Botticelli, Galileo Gallilei, Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli. Under the rule of the Medici family, Florence also developed into an important center of finance and trade. With a population of around 366,000, Florence is today the capital of Tuscany." . (Taschen, Braun, and Hogenberg, p.112.)

From volume one of the greatest publication in this genre!. The Civitates was compiled and written by George Braun, Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun gathered vast amounts of information and draft plans to produce over 500 city views/maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617. Most of these engravings were made by Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg, many after drawings by Joris Hoefnagel.
Read more about the Civitates Orbis.

Reference: Koeman (1967-70) B & H 1-5, NMM III, i, 459 (1573-1618 ed.), Introduction', in: G. Braun and F. Hogenberg, Civitates orbis terrarum (Amsterdam: 1965). (2)