Rare Old Map of Milan by Pinchetti, 1801: Foro Bonaparte, Citadel, Naviglio Canal, Piazzas

The "Città di Milano" map, meticulously crafted by Giacomo Pinchetti in 1801 and engraved by Giuseppe Caniani, is a remarkable testament to the urban and architectural grandeur of early 19th-century Milan. This exquisite map not only charts the intricate layout of Milan's streets and squares but also encapsulates the ambitious vision of the Napoleonic era, particularly through the proposed Foro Bonaparte project. This project, although never realized, envisioned a transformative urban space with a nearly square civil building at its heart, surrounded by public and private edifices, reflecting the grandiosity of Napoleonic urban planning.

One of the most captivating aspects of this map is its detailed representation of Milan's significant neighborhoods and landmarks. The Citadel of Milan, a focal point of the Foro Bonaparte project, is prominently featured, illustrating the intended transformation of this military stronghold into a civic center. The map also highlights the Naviglio Canal, designed to weave through the city, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional connectivity. This canal was planned to exit the Customs area, run parallel to a continuous portico, and connect to the new road to France via Sempione, showcasing the integration of urban design and transportation.

In addition to its architectural and infrastructural elements, the map provides a comprehensive listing of Milan's public factories, collegiate churches, parishes, and subsidiary churches. These are meticulously cataloged in twelve columns at the top, offering a detailed snapshot of the city's religious and industrial landscape. The lower left corner of the map further enriches this historical tapestry by detailing places of education, pious places, and the National Guard, underscoring the multifaceted nature of Milanese society at the time.

The map's design is a masterclass in cartographic elegance, with graphic scales in Braccia Milanesi and Tese di Francia, providing precise measurements for contemporary and future reference. The eighteen columns at the bottom, listing the names of streets, squares, and gates, serve as a valuable directory, guiding the viewer through the labyrinthine streets of Milan. This detailed enumeration not only aids navigation but also offers insights into the urban fabric and nomenclature of the period.

Historically, the "Città di Milano" map is significant for its portrayal of an ambitious urban vision that, despite its non-realization, reflects the aspirations and dynamism of Napoleonic Milan. It stands as a valuable document for historians, urban planners, and enthusiasts of cartography, offering a window into the city's past and the grand designs that shaped its development. This map is not just a representation of Milan's streets and buildings; it is a narrative of a city's dreams and the historical forces that influenced its evolution.

Streets and roads on this map

• Corso di Porta Romana
• Corso di Porta Ticinese
• Corso di Porta Venezia
• Corso di Porta Vercellina
• Piazza del Duomo
• Piazza San Babila
• Piazza Santo Stefano
• Piazza dei Mercanti
• Piazza della Scala
• Piazza del Carmine
• Piazza di Santa Maria
• Piazza di Sant'Ambrogio
• Piazza di San Fedele
• Piazza del Castello
• Piazza Beccaria
• Piazza Fontana
• Piazza Cavour
• Piazza Sant'Alessandro
• Piazza San Sepolcro
• Piazza San Nazaro in Brolo
• Piazza San Marco
• Piazza San Simpliciano
• Piazza San Giovanni in Conca
• Piazza San Carlo
• Piazza San Lorenzo
• Piazza San Maurilio
• Piazza Santa Maria alla Porta
• Piazza San Bernardino alle Ossa
• Piazza San Francesco di Paola
• Piazza San Vittore al Corpo

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Illustrations:
• Detailed engravings of buildings and city layout.
• Landmarks:
• Foro Bonaparte (project area).
• Citadel of Milan.
• Neighbourhoods:
• Various city districts are detailed.
• Large parks:
• The area around the Citadel appears to be planned as open space in the Foro Bonaparte project.

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Città di Milano
• Date of creation: 1801
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Giacomo Pinchetti, engraved by Giuseppe Caniani
• Public Factories, Collegiate Churches, Parishes, and Subsidiary Churches: Listed in twelve columns at the top.
• Names of streets, squares, and gates: Included in eighteen columns at the bottom.
• Places of Education, Pious Places, National Guard, and Bonaparte Forum references: Detailed in the lower left corner with references according to the Antolini project.
• Graphic scales: Braccia Milanesi and Tese di Francia.
• Foro Bonaparte project by Antolini: A significant Napoleonic-era project proposed to transform the Citadel of Milan with various public and private buildings, porticos, and a redesigned Naviglio Canal. Despite symbolic commencement in 1801, the project was never initiated.
• Urban planning and architecture: Emphasizes the Foro Bonaparte project.
• Religious and public institutions: Detailed listings of churches and public factories.
• Education and piety: Places of education and pious places are noted.
• Countries and regions shown: The map focuses on the city of Milan, Italy.
• Design and style:
• Detailed street and building layout.
• Extensive use of lists and columns for categorizing information.
• Classical cartographic elements with scales in local units.
• Historical significance:
• Provides insight into early 19th-century Milanese urban planning.
• Reflects Napoleonic influence on city development.
• Documents an ambitious but unrealized urban transformation project.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.