mappatori

Mappatori is the Italian plural noun for people who make maps. The term derives from mappa, meaning map, and the agent noun suffix -tore, yielding a generic sense of “map-maker.” In modern Italian, the more formal word for a professional map-maker is cartografo, while mappatore is more common in historical, literary, or informal contexts and can carry an archaic or regional nuance.

Historically, the word has been used in Italian texts to refer to individuals involved in topographic work and map production. In some periods and contexts, mappatori designated military or survey personnel responsible for reconnaissance, topographic surveys, road and fortification planning, and the creation of geographic documentation to support campaigns. In this sense, their role overlapped with that of cartographers and surveyors, but the emphasis was on field mapping and practical geographic information for operations.

In contemporary usage, mappatore is rarely employed to denote a professional cartographer; it is largely found in historical discussions, older literature, or regional-language usage. The standard term in official and academic contexts remains cartografo, with cartografia as the study of map-making and geographic representation.

See also: Cartografia, Cartografia, Cartografo, Topografia, Genio Militare (military engineering and surveying), Surveying.