First ever travel guide to go on rare public display at the British Museum this week
(Artdaily.org)

An illustrated travel guide that was made over half a millennium ago is to go on rare display at the British Museum this week. It is the earliest example of a travel book and caused a sensation in Europe when it was first produced. The book - `Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctam` by Bernhard von Breydenbach - was made in 1486 and features the first ever accurate printed illustrations of some of the most important European and Middle Eastern cities such as Venice and Jerusalem. It goes on public display in the exhibition Inspired by the east: how the Islamic world influenced western art which opens on Thursday. The exhibition charts Europe’s interest and fascination with the Middle East which began through increased travel to the region from the 15th century and in part was driven by this book. The illustrations it contained were the first time many people in western Europe ever saw realistic depictions of these famous cities