What route did Saint Roch take to get to Rome? The one along the Mediterranean coast, probably. In this case, he couldn't avoid Genoa. At that time, this port is one of four great thriving cities of Italy, with Venice, Milan and Florence. Genoa and Venice are the two great maritime rivals; they carry on trade with the eastern Mediterranean. Four times in a century, they fight with arms for first place!

So Italy is a mosaic of un-unified towns and provinces. Those that remain republics are rare. In the majority of cases, the ambitious grab the power and found a family. The great quarrel between the Guelfes (partisans of the pope) and the Gibelins (partisans of the emperor of Germany) continues to tear apart the cities like the provinces. The Pope's stay at Avignon, then the great schism, increase the anarchy in the states and in the Church.

The traveler is probably disconcerted when passing through the countryside. Here, as in Florence and Sienna, prosperity reigns: artisans are busy, banks function, works of art abound. But a few leagues farther; disorder, misery and destruction spread. In 14th century Italy, the declining Middle Ages prepares the way for the Renaissance.