The book is titled: Newes itinerarium italiae. This translates to new itinerary (trough) Italy. It gives a presentiment that the book is a travel guide about Italy. Since the book is supposed about architecture, I guess that it is a travel guide about the different architecture of Italy and its villages, cities and regions. The book could be a learning tool or a reference book for aspiring architects.
After a long preface the book shows a list of places, villages and cities with a page number and in alphabetical order. This is the table of contents and lets your search for a place you want to learn more about. Though the table of contents is in alphabetical order, the chapters about the different geographical places are not.
Next to charts and lists, there are multiple illustrations in the book. There are maps of Italy, an illustration of the leaning tower of Pisa, viewports of cities, a swordsman and many more.
The book is neither remarkably big or small, thick or thin. Yet for a guide it is quite detailed and contains a lot of information. Some of the illustrations such as the maps are folded and when unfolded have a bigger format than the rest of the book.
The book was written by Joseph Furttenbach. He was a german architect, mathematician, mechanic and chronicler. He was the 20th son of a forester and councilor. After school he spent twelve years in Italy where he studied many subjects, one of which was architecture. His book “Newes itinerarium italiae” was the most read, german travel guide of the 17th century.