Step into the grandeur of 16th-century Constantinople with this exquisite city map, originally titled "Constantinopoli; citta principale del gran Turcho." Crafted in 1572 by the accomplished engraver Domenico Zenoi for Forlani’s celebrated "Il Primo Libro Delle Citta," this bird’s-eye view transports you to the heart of the Ottoman Empire’s most illustrious metropolis. The map’s reversed orientation, a fascinating cartographic quirk of its era, presents the city as if viewed from the eastern shore, allowing viewers to appreciate its unique urban silhouette and intricate network of fortifications.

This map is a veritable showcase of Constantinople’s architectural and cultural treasures. The legendary Hagia Sophia, depicted as "Santa Sophia," stands as a testament to the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, while the sprawling Topkapi Palace complex—labelled as the "Seraglio del gran Turcho"—dominates the historic peninsula. The Hippodrome, a center of civic life for centuries, is clearly marked, inviting the viewer to imagine the grandeur of imperial ceremonies and public spectacles that once animated its grounds.

A particularly captivating feature is the detailed illustration of the city’s formidable walls and numerous gates, which encircle and protect the urban core. Each gate and tower is meticulously labelled, offering a rare glimpse into the city’s defensive architecture and the strategic importance of its location. The map’s extensive keyed gazetteer identifies 57 significant public buildings and gates, making it an invaluable reference for historians and collectors alike.

Beyond the city’s core, the map elegantly captures the vibrant waterfronts of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus Strait, both teeming with ships and maritime activity. The Galata district, with its own fortifications and towers, is prominently featured across the bay, reflecting the cosmopolitan character of this bustling port and its vital role in trade and diplomacy. The depiction of harbours, docks, and lively waterside scenes further underscores Constantinople’s status as a crossroads of continents and cultures.

Domenico Zenoi’s artistry is on full display in the intricate detailing and pictorial flourishes that define this map. His work not only documents the physical layout of the city but also evokes the spirit of Renaissance cartography—where scientific observation met imaginative interpretation. For connoisseurs of historical maps, this piece is a rare opportunity to own a window into the urban fabric and daily life of one of history’s most storied cities, rendered by a master of his craft.

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Detailed fortifications and city walls clearly depicted around the city.
• Prominent mosques and religious buildings, including Hagia Sophia (labelled "Santa Sophia").
• Numerous towers and gates along the city walls, clearly labelled and numbered.
• The Golden Horn Bay prominently illustrated, though geographically reversed.
• Harbour areas and docks depicted along the waterfront.
• Ships and boats illustrated in the waters around the city, emphasizing maritime activity.
• The Hippodrome ("Hippodromo") clearly labelled and illustrated.
• The Topkapi Palace complex ("Seraglio del gran Turcho") prominently illustrated and labelled.
• Galata district across the Golden Horn, clearly depicted with fortifications and towers.
• Golden Horn Bay prominently illustrated.
• Bosphorus Strait depicted, though orientation is reversed.

Historical and design context

• Map Name: Constantinopoli; citta principale del gran Turcho.
• Date of Creation: 1572 (originally engraved in 1567).
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Domenico Zenoi, engraved for Forlani's "Il Primo Libro Delle Citta".
• The map is notable for its reversed orientation, inaccurately placing Constantinople on the right shore of the Golden Horn Bay.
• This is a pictorial bird's-eye view map, typical of the 16th-century cartographic style, emphasizing artistic representation and detailed illustrations of buildings, fortifications, and urban layout.
• The map prominently displays urban fortifications, significant public buildings, city gates, and the overall layout of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), reflecting its strategic and cultural importance in the 16th century.
• The map specifically depicts Constantinople (Istanbul), historically significant as the capital of the Byzantine Empire and later a major city under Ottoman rule.
• This map provides valuable historical context about the city’s urban structure, architecture, and fortifications during the Ottoman period.
• The map includes an extensive keyed gazetteer identifying 57 notable public buildings and city gates, providing detailed historical context and insight into the city's urban features.

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 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

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.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.