Cartography and iconography as diachronic analysis tools of the urban fabric: Évora and Setúbal

Abstract

Abstract

The evolution of cities can be interpreted through graphic elements, as recommended by Marco Pollio Vitruvius (1st century BC), whose forms of expression (plans, elevations and perspectives) are revealed as precious and reliable instruments to read the cities. Establishing mapping elements, they appear as representing cities and in various stages of construction of their urban networks. The iconography is an important element of analysis that allows a careful reading of the “reality” of cities at specific times. In addition to understanding them as representative of static moments, they allow the current reinterpretation of the urban fabric. Adding new elements may be important in reading the cities, which are considered as dynamic tools for its understanding. Regarding cartography and iconography of various eras, we propose to make a comparative analysis of the historical urban fabric of two cities with deployment capabilities and differentiated urban development (Évora and Setúbal). To achieve our goals, we will read the morphological elements of the Medieval City (fortification, street, square, medieval blocks; market; singular buildings) and its iconography in order to understand its diachronic evolution between their similarities and differences.