The Nolli Map
of Rome

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The Nolli Map of Rome

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The Great Plan of Rome (La Pianta Grande di Rome), 1748, by the architect and surveyor Giambattista Nolli is regarded by scholars and cartographers alike as one of the greatest maps ever made. 

A Detail of the Nolli Map of Rome

The Great Plan of Rome, better known as the Nolli Map of Rome, is made up of 12 exquisite copper-plate engravings, which in total measure 176 cm by 208 cm (69 inches by 82 inches). It depicts the Eternal City in astonishing detail. ​

The Dedication to Pope Benedict XIV

Nolli dedicated his map to Pope Benedict XIV (r. 1740-58). In translation his dedication reads: TO THE HOLINESS OF OUR LORD POPE BENEDICT THE 14TH. THE NEW MAP OF ROME IS OBSEQUIOUSLY OFFERED AND DEDICATED BY HIS HUMBLE SERVANT GIAMBATTISTA NOLLI OF COMO. 

Plaque to Giambattista Nolli

Giambattista Nolli is interred in the medieval church of Santa Dorotea, which he restructured. A plaque proclaims: D · O · M / IOANNES BAPTISTA NOLLI / NOVOCOMENSIS / GEOMETRA ET ARCHITECTVS / NOVISSIMA VRBIS ICHNOGRAPHIA / ET TEMPLI HVIVS DESSIGNATIONE / IN PRIMIS NOBILIS / HIC SITVS EST / OBIIT · V · NON · IVL · AN · MDCCLVI (To God the best and the greatest. Here lies Giovanni Battista Nolli of Como, surveyor and architect, known above all for the very new map of the city and for the plan of this church. He died on the fifth day before the nones of July 1758).

​In the July of ancient Rome the nones fell on the seventh day of the month, so, taking into account the Roman inclusive system of counting, that corresponds to July 3rd. 

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