LOXA (Loja, Granada).

An early view of Loja, a bird''s eye view from the greatest publication in this genre ! The 'Civitates' was compiled and written by George Braun, Canon of Cologne Cathedral. Braun gathered together vast amounts of information and draft plans to produce over 500 city views/maps published in six parts between 1572 and 1617.
Most of these engravings were made by Simon Novellanus and Frans Hogenberg, many after drawings by Joris Hoefnagel.
The engraving shows a broad view from the north of the Andalusian city of Loja, seen from a low perspective. The Sierra de Loja Mountains rise up behind the town that is spread out in the valley. On the far right the road to Seville can be seen.
The towering Alcazaba castle goes back to the time of the Moors, under whose rule Loja was called Medina Lawsa. This castle is an indication of Loja's military importance during the Reconquista: the fertile valley in which the city lies was an important access route to Granada, the capital of the Nasrid Empire of the Moors.
In 1486, a united Spain was able to conquer Loja; six years later the last Moorish stronghold fell in Granada. Today this Spanish city in the province of Granada, and has a population of 21,000.

More about Braun and Hogenberg, Civitatus [+]

Reference: Koeman/Krogt, Atlantes Neerlandici, B & H