Antwerpia około 1570 roku. Spacerem po szesnastowiecznej metropolii

In the second half of the 16th century, Antwerp was one of the biggest and most important cities of the Old world. as a centre of typography, art, local and over- seas trade, it played a crucial role in the Habsburg monarchy.What did the landscape of the city inhabited by 100,000 people look like and how did they live? Has anything remained of its glorious past? the main aim of the present article is to show Antwerp in its Golden age. such an experiment requires a travel guide, in this case Lodovico Guicciardini’s Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi, and a city plan. Georg Braun’s and Frans Hogenberg’s Civitates orbis terrarum also provides us with a description of Antwerp at the time in question.Our retrospective walk begins in the southern suburbs of Antwerp with the joyous entry of prince Philip, the son of emperor Charles V. through the Keizerspoort (emperor’s gate) we enter the city and follow its streets filled with the noisy rumble of tradesmen who came there from all over Europe, encouraged by its prolonged fairs and a harbor easily docking even the biggest sea ships. we ad- mire the churches, abbeys, and public buildings which were landmarks for citizens of Antwerp in their everyday life.