Carte Du Val Di Chiana Et D'Une Partie Du Cours De L'Arno (Map of Val di Chiana Valley and Part of the Course of the Arno)

Description

This map, as its title suggests, is titled "Carte du Val di Chiana et d'une Partie du Cours de l'Arno" (Map of the Chiana Valley and a portion of the Arno River). It depicts in detail the topography and drainage systems of the Val di Chiana, located within Tuscany, as well as the course of the Arno River. The engraving style, using shading to render the landforms, visually highlights the valleys, tributaries, and mountains. The map includes settlements such as Arezzo to the north, Citta di Castello to the east, Orvieto to the south, and Acquapendente to the west. These locations lie in present-day Tuscany and Umbria, Italy. The map depicts the river system at the center of the Chiana Valley, along with its various tributaries, encompassing a vast wetland. At the southern end of the valley are the towns of Chiusi and Citta della Pieve, while important cities such as Arezzo are visible to the north. Lago di Perugia (today known as Lago Trasimeno) is clearly visible on the map's east. The lake is depicted in considerable detail on the map, along with surrounding towns such as Castiglione and Passignano. This lake played a significant role in the region's hydrographic balance at the time. The river tributaries depicted on the map include not only the Chiana River but also the upper basin of the Arno River. With the contributions of French engineers such as Gaspard de Prony, such maps were used in technical matters such as planning irrigation systems, draining marshes, and land reclamation.