A pictorial map drawn by the artist Aldo Cigheri, showing the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino in a lively and narrative composition that also includes historical and folkloric annotations. The style is typical of “pictorial maps,” with geographical outlines enhanced by vignettes, small drawings placed next to the main place names to evoke monuments, customs, figures, or local products—for example, next to Valletta appear the city skyline or emblematic buildings, while near Mdina one can glimpse historical ruins or medieval figures.
In the lower left, an insert opens with the topographical plan of Valletta, accompanied by a numbered sequence of points of interest (palaces, gates, monuments). The view of the port of Valletta, represented from the sea towards the coast, dominates the lower part. The surrounding sea is populated by many illustrations: traditional sailing ships, fishing boats, small figures of bathers or fishermen, and also stylized fish swimming between the sea routes. These elements not only decorate the empty space of the water but also create a lively atmosphere, underlining the Mediterranean identity of the archipelago. The narrative “encyclopedic” aspect also includes scenes of naval conflicts that occurred in 1941, a crucial year in the battle for control of Malta, characterized by failed Italian maritime attack attempts and increasing aerial pressure from the Axis, countered by vigorous British defense actions that considered Malta a fundamental strategic base in the Mediterranean.
The map is framed by a rich ornamental border, embellished with ornamental motifs—flowers, leaves, fruits—typical of Central European and Art Deco taste. At the vertices of this frame appear heraldic coats of arms: crosses, noble shields, or historical symbols linked to the various periods of Maltese history, such as the epic of the Order of Malta. Published in Genoa in 1959 as a leaflet to promote tourism in Malta.
Aldo Cigheri (1909-1995) was an artist from Genoa, graduated in painting from the Ligustica Academy of Fine Arts. He worked as an advertising illustrator and distinguished himself for his decorative and lithographic cartography for Italian tourism in the second half of the twentieth century. Among his geo-pictorial works are “Lake Maggiore and pre-Alpine lakes” (1950), “Palermo and its tourist area” (1950), and “Ragusa and its province” (1956). He is also known for a gastronomic map of the province of Genoa created between the late 1950s and early 1960s, which illustrates local food and wine tourism.
