Reconstructing Gasparo Balbi's Itinerario

Nossa Senhora da Graca Tower

This photograph depicts the ruins of an Augustinian church situated in Chaul. Chaul was an important Portuguese center for trade as early as 1521, but…

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Van Heemskerck's pen and brown ink drawing offers one of many reconstructive illustrations of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Van Heemsckerk's image…

View of Cannanore on the Malabar Coast

This oil on linen painting depicts the port of Cannanore (Kannur) shortly after the Dutch gained control of the region from the Portuguese in 1663. …

The Tiger Cave, Elephanta Caves

Balbi visited the Elephanta Caves in 15XX and recorded a lengthy history of the site, linking it specifically with Alexander the Great. In fact, this…

View of Aleppo

This image of Aleppo appears in the Travel Journal of Ambrosio Bembo. Like Balbi, Bembo too traveled throughout the Middle East and enlisted the…

Basrah: The Venice of Iraq

This postcard, printed in the late 1950s, emphasizes the strong visual relationship between Basrah and Venice. Basra is located approximately 65…

Rue Dirieta, Goa

It comes as little surprise that Balbi spent a good deal of time in the Portuguese colony, including the activities that took place daily on the Rua…

Othello's Castle

Othello's castle overlooks the Mediterranean Ocean. It is situated at the eastern most point of the island of Cyprus, in the city of Famagusta. …