About
This Renaissance square was at the center of Leonardo da Vinci's map, the first ichnographic ever.
Between 1499 and 1501 Cesare Borgia, the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander IV, defeated Caterina Sforza, Lady of Imola and Countess of Forli, to conquer Romagna. After his victory, he appointed Leonardo da Vinci to the position of General Architect and Engineer. In 1502, he ordered him to study the fortification of the region. One of his first tasks was to draw a map of the city of Imola. This moment would change cartography forever. Previously, maps representing the city were crafted from an artistic perspective, usually from a hillside view. Buildings often lacked details and areas were not true to scale. A map created this way was a hindrance to military operations.
