De Melita insula. Melita insula, ab Sicilia disiuneta Africam versus s hierosolimitanor[um] militum sedes is Giovanni Francesco Camocio’s incisive portrait of Malta at the fulcrum of the sixteenth-century Mediterranean. Its Latin title proclaims an island “set apart from Sicily, toward Africa,” the very “seat of the soldiers of Jerusalem”—the Knights of St. John—signaling a strategic lens as much as a geographic one. Issued in 1565 and drawing upon the famed Dillingen prototype, Camocio inflects the model with Venetian intelligence and style: an ornate cartouche, a crisply lettered panel on Malta’s position in the seas, and a network of fortifications poised on the eve of the Great Siege. The result is both report and reverie, a measured survey charged with historical imminence.

Camocio frames the main island of Malta in commanding relief, with Camino (Comino) riding mid-channel and the near shore of Gozo—its capital Rabat (now Victoria)—visible across the strait. High hills and incised valleys articulate the spine of Malta, culminating at dignified Mdina, the island’s former capital, perched above the fertile central plain. The eastern littoral is a choreography of harbors and promontories: Birgu and Senglea straddle the Grand Harbour, while the headland opposite Sliema hints at the future site of Valletta. Northward, Mellieħa anchors the approaches to St. Paul’s Bay, and the winding coves toward Marsala (modern Marsaskala) register the island’s scalloped coast. Around them, lively galleys animate the surrounding seas.

The toponymy offers a compelling palimpsest of languages and regimes. Bobakra resolves to modern Birkirkara; Dinagle anticipates Dingli; and Marsala maps to Marsaskala, each echoing the phonetics of an Italianate hand applied to Semitic and Latin roots. Paths and settlements thread the countryside, revealing the lived geography that fed and fortified the Order’s strongholds. Mdina’s prominence affirms its lingering administrative gravity, while the formidable presence of Fort Saint Angelo, commanding the northeastern reach of the harbor complex, signals the martial heart of the island before Valletta’s foundation. Camocio captures Malta at the pivot: an entrenched network of towns and bastions poised to be reforged by siege and subsequent urban ambition.

The maritime vignettes—brisk galleys cutting across the channels—are not mere ornament but narrative. They signal corsair-haunted waters, when Ottoman and Barbary fleets probed Christian littorals and the Knights’ own squadrons scoured the sea-lanes. Camocio’s text box underscores Malta’s hinge-like placement between Sicily and Africa, a forward bastion astride the gateway to the western basin. The Gozo–Camino narrows, the approaches to the Grand Harbour, and the sailing corridors along the southern coast are all implicit in the composition, which reads as a strategist’s brief as much as a traveler’s chart. In these choices, the map becomes a dispatch from the front lines of an early modern maritime contest.

Giovanni Francesco Camocio—Venetian publisher-cartographer of the Lafreri School—excelled at transforming current intelligence into elegant, information-dense images. His celebrated Isole famose and related series distilled the geopolitics of the age with an engraver’s finesse; here, adapting the Dillingen model, he deepens the political and physical portraiture of Malta with meticulous place-names, clear relief, and a masterly cartouche. Noteworthy in sixteenth-century cartography for the balance of topographic truth and strategic emphasis, this work is also vanishingly scarce: examples have not surfaced on the market for more than thirty years. As an artifact, it unites rarity and relevance; as a vision, it fixes Malta at the instant before siege and transformation, with Mdina, Birgu, Senglea, and Fort Saint Angelo standing sentinel over the narrow seas.

Cities and towns on this map

• Birkirkara (Bobakra)
• Dingli (Dinagle)
• Mdina
• Valletta (as a reference point for historical significance)
• Birgu
• Senglea
• Mellieħa
• Sliema
• Marsala (part of modern-day Marsaskala)
• Victoria (Rabat, known as the capital of Gozo)
• Camino Island (not a town, but noted for geographic consistency)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Prominent display of Mdina as the former capital of Malta.
• Depiction of Fort Saint Angelo in the northeast.
• High hills and valleys, highlighting the topography.
• Noted bodies of water including surrounding seas with galleys depicted.
• Multiple historic names including paths and notable locations.
• Text box indicating strategic insights concerning Malta's position in the Mediterranean.
• Illustrations of ships and galleys, emphasizing maritime activity.

Historical and design context

• Created by Giovanni Francesco Camocio in 1565.
• Rare Italian map based on the Dillingen map of Malta.
• Frames the main island of Malta, with visible locations of Camino and parts of Gozo.
• Many place names resonate with modern names (e.g., “Bobakra” to Birkirkara; “Dinagle” to Dingli).
• Represents Malta during a period of transition, with implications for the Knights of St. John and their fortifications.
• Captures a moment before the Great Siege of 1565, shaping Malta’s defenses.
• Noteworthy in cartography for its detailed depiction of political and physical features.
• Features an ornate cartouche typical of the time, denoting detailed topography and place names.
• Produced in full original color, showcasing aesthetic attention to detail.
• Considered very rare, with no examples available on the market for over thirty years.

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 50in (125cm). 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.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.

We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.

Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.

Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.

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

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

If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.

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 order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints 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.