Castle Belvedere, Crete.

Boschini, Marco. Castle Belvedere "Castel Belveder" Venice "Marco Boschini Venetiano, al Serinissima Principe E Regal Collegio di Venetia" 1651
Black & white copper engraved birdseye view/ map of castle Belvedere from Marco Boschini's "Il Regno tutto di Candia"single page; verso blank.
The view/ map shows the fort Castel Belvedere or Kastelos ,built on the isolated hill Kastellos, that was accessible only from its south side, near the villages of Ano and Kato Kastelliana.
The castle dominated the western edge of Messara and was built by the Genoese pirate Pescatore between 1206-1210. During building, materials were extracted by the ancient town Priansos, which was built at the same position. The name Belvedere means good view, derived from the stunning views towards all directions. Dark impression, on laid paper; soiling to blank margins; light dampstain to edge of right blank margin.

Marco Boschini, [1613-78]
Venetian painter and engraver, published two important works regarding Greece.
" Il regno tutto di Candia" in 1651. (1st & only edition). Boschini started work on the survey of Crete in 1645, the year in which the Turks invaded the island. In his dedication to the work he mentions a large map of the island dated 1645 [of which only 2 copies are recorded] there is no copy of the complete work known of this date.
Boschini published the work in 1651, when the city of Candia [Iraklion] had been in a state of siege for 4 years ( it was to last 22 years): he undertook the work to illustrate the Venetian valour in the face of the Ottoman attack on Crete

"L'Archipelago."an isolario of the Greek Islands in 1658.
The outlines of the Islands in the "L'Archipelago" recall those of Bartelemeo dalli Sonnetti, whose "Isolario" Venice. 1485 was the first appearance of the islands in printed form.
Not described by Zacherakis; Blackmer /Navari:171; Blackmer/Sotheby's:37. 215 by 162mm (8½ by 6½ inches).   ref: 2114  €350