Italy - Calabria / Paola - Cosenza; Pierre Mortier (Amsterdam, 1661-1711). - l'Hermitage et Solitude de St. Francois de Paule. S. P. FRANCISCI DE PAVLA EREMVS et SOLITVDO. - 1721-1750

This historic map titled "l'Hermitage et Solitude de St. Francois de Paule" documents the hermitage and solitude site associated with Saint Francis of Paola, located in Calabria, Italy, specifically around Paola in the Cosenza province. Created by Pierre Mortier, a notable Amsterdam-based cartographer and engraver active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, this map dates from between 1721 and 1750. Saint Francis of Paola was a revered 15th-century Italian friar and founder of the Order of Minims, known for his hermitic lifestyle and spiritual solitude, which this map commemorates visually and geographically. Such maps serve not only as navigational tools but as cultural and religious artifacts documenting sites important in Christian heritage. The map likely includes artistic and geographic details reflecting early 18th-century cartographic styles, enhancing our understanding of how religious sites were represented and valued at this time. Collectors and historians appreciate these maps for their blend of artistry, geography, and religious significance, offering insights into Calabria's historic landscape and devotion practices connected to Saint Francis of Paola.