Della Citta di Comacchio

This publication by eighteenth century historian Gian Francesco Bonaveri is a chronicle of the fishing town of Comacchio, situated in the northern provence of Ferrara, Italy.


This extraordinary town was founded on a blue lagoon, spread across thirteen different islets joined by bridges. Once a wealthy municipality built on fortunes gleaned from the salt pans, the city was also of strategic importance, situated like Venice on Italy’s eastern coastline. Bonaveri set out to draw an historical overview of his city, both civil and natural, notably documenting the city’s tradition of eel catching.


The text in Italian is accompanied by three folding plates: the first a map of Italy’s Adriatic coastline; the second a drawing of eel catching activities in the lagoon; and the third a drawing of eel preparation in the town square, where eels are first diced and then skewered before being roasted on racks.