Towards a Geography of the Ars Apodemica

Towards a Geography of the ars apodemica The Renaissance genre of travel advice known as the ars apodemica (art of travel) has become more widely recognized in recent scholarship as an important resource for understanding the development of European travel and the norms imposed on it in the period from 1500 to 1700 (especially in the work of Joan-Pau Rubiés and Justin Stagl). This paper describes the production of an online database of such materials under development at the National University of Ireland, Galway. One of the objectives of the database is to provide an intellectual map of Europe by tracking the movement of travelers and scholars across the Continent, including sites visited, and places of composition and publication of their travel accounts. At the same time the essays and treatises produced as part of the ars apodemica described an ideal practice, offering exemplary descriptions of famous cities in some instances, such as Naples, Padua, or Basel. The paper will also discuss the differences between these ideal journeys and the actual practices and destinations of European travelers in the period.