PIACENZA, Francesco
Francesco Piacenza (1637-1687) was an Italian jurist, diplomat and chess player. He was professor of civil and canon law and secretary to the Catholic Embassy in Germany; as a chess player, he was able to travel widely in Italy and other European countries.
Piacenza published a treatise on chess, outlining strategies of attack and defence. After his exploration of the Aegean islands, he wrote a thorough and systematic description of the Aegean Sea, with maps of all the islands, and a short exposition on Central Greece and the Peloponnese.
Piacenza's work was published posthumously. It includes engravings of excellent quality, while the description of the islands covers approximately seven hundred pages; Piacenza sourced this material from earlier isolaria, and nautical and geographical works. Finally, the edition is completed by an extremely interesting index.
Written by Ioli Vingopoulou
PIACENZA, Francesco - Aegean islands - Aegean sea islands
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Map of Agathonisi, Farmakonisi islands and Argelloussa islet, part of Arkioi cluster.
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Map of the islets of Kyra Panagia (Pelagonisi), Gioura and nearby islets.
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Map of Skiathos island and the northeastern coast of Euboea.
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Map of the islands of Irakleia, Schoinousa, Keros and Koufonisia.
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Map of the islets of Sarakino, Gioura, Psathoura, Piperi and Prassoniso in the Northern Sporades.