After a two-day stop in Siena, Augustus's entourage set off again, heading northeast.
In fact, Siena was already very close to Florence, only 50 kilometers away, which was less than one-fifth of the total journey remaining. At their previous speed, they could arrive within ten hours.
Furthermore, the Siena region was mountainous and hilly, but between Siena and the Arno River, which flowed northwest from Arezzo through Florence and then west into the sea, there were only gradually lowering hills and large stretches of fertile, flat river valleys. Therefore, the road ahead was much easier than before.
It was precisely for this reason that Augustus's two-day stop in Siena, rather than resting in Tuscany, seemed particularly strange. If he had to give an external reason, Augustus could only explain that he was quite fond of Siena and had come to seek a quiet retreat.
These two days truly were Augustus's most leisurely days; he didn't have to do anything, and he couldn't do anything.
Passing through the outskirts of Florence, Augustus nearly drooled at the sight of considerable amounts of wheat, corn, cattle feed, and other crops growing on the fertile land of the Arno River basin. This was not because he was hungry, but because he loved this land so much.
The Roman Plain, where Rome was located, was an undulating lowland with poor soil, mainly composed of volcanic material, and thus had never been a high-yield agricultural area.
And the hilly area of the volcanic plateau west of the Tiber River, while not a high-yield agricultural area, was already considered one of the best in the Rome region. Due to generally poor soil, only extensive cultivation could yield a large harvest. But even so, the surrounding agricultural areas combined were far from sufficient to supply Rome's vast population.
Therefore, Rome always had to rely on other cities, or even import grain from other countries at high prices.
Augustus was very clear about what grain meant and what a lack of grain could cause. The inability to be self-sufficient in grain was definitely a hidden danger. It was not a major problem in peacetime; grain could always be bought, regardless of the price. But once an emergency occurred, with powerful enemies surrounding them, transportation routes blocked, or even enemy troops at the city gates, a lack of grain could truly be fatal.
Throughout history, countless popes were constrained by food shortages, and generals, monarchs, and dynasties died due to lack of grain.
The Apennine Peninsula is generally mountainous and its land is not fertile, making it suitable for growing cash crops like grapes and olives. High-yield grain areas like the Arno River basin are few and far between. The Italian region, even during the Roman Empire, was highly dependent on grain from other provinces, and in later eras, Italy still had to import grain.
Controlling such fertile land, Florence's natural conditions could be described as uniquely advantageous. Coupled with its developed banking and wool industries, it's no wonder it could stand firm in the constantly warring Northern Italian region and even unify Tuscany.
Augustus secretly resolved: he must obtain the support of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany!
In fact, if it weren't for his Medici Family connection, which naturally made it easier to gain the Grand Duke of Tuscany's support and ensure a more reliable alliance, Augustus might have first set his sights on Tuscany rather than Venice.
The convoy slowly entered Florence, gradually slowing down. The city streets were crowded, and the Pope's arrival attracted many onlookers, accompanied by various shouts. Even with Florence's security forces maintaining order, the convoy inevitably stopped and started.
Augustus hesitated, wondering whether to respond to the enthusiastic crowd. He thought better of it; it was best not to be too ostentatious on someone else's territory. Moreover, as a Pope, if the sense of mystery was lost, much of his prestige would also diminish.
Actually, Augustus himself really wanted to stick his head out and visit Florence, but it was clearly not the right time.
As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence has long been renowned as the City of Arts. During its most glorious period, Florence gathered countless famous figures: Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Galileo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, Giotto, Modigliani, Titian, Boccaccio, Petrarch, Vasari, and Niccolò Machiavelli.
In Augustus's impression, the city of Florence had a total of 40 museums and art galleries, over 60 palaces, and numerous large and small churches. There should not be as many now as in later generations, but there were certainly quite a few.
Florence Cathedral: Its exterior is constructed with pink, green, and cream-white marble, showcasing an elegant and noble feminine temperament, hence it is called the "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower." It is considered one of the three great domes of ancient Europe, along with the Pantheon in Rome and St. Peter's Basilica from the High Renaissance. The colossal fresco "The Last Judgment" on the dome of Florence Cathedral is the painstaking work of the 16th-century art master Vasari. From Florence Cathedral, European architecture officially transitioned from the "Gothic Era" into the "Renaissance Era."
Giotto's Bell Tower: The 82-meter-high tower next to the Florence Cathedral, begun by the architect Giotto in 1334, has a square, columnar appearance. It harmonizes pink, dark green, and cream colors in a geometric scheme, blending perfectly with the adjacent Florence Cathedral. Its base also features exquisite bas-reliefs, and an internal staircase leads to the top, with a total of 290 steps.
Florence Baptistery: The octagonal church facing the Florence Cathedral, built between the 5th and 8th centuries, is a representative example of Romanesque architecture in the Tuscany region.
The most valuable tourist attraction in the Baptistery is its three bronze doors with bas-reliefs: the bronze door on the south side of the entrance was made by Andrea Pisano in 1330, with 28 panels depicting stories from John's preaching; the east-facing door was created by Ghiberti over 27 years starting in 1425, with ten panels depicting Adam and Eve and themes from the Old Testament, praised by Michelangelo as the "Gates of Paradise"; the north bronze door is also Ghiberti's work, composed of 28 panels, with themes illustrating the life of Christ and the deeds of his 12 disciples.
Palazzo Vecchio: Also known as the Old Palace, this well-fortified palace was once the residence of the Medici Family. The Great Hall on the second floor served as the assembly hall for the Republican government, with Michelangelo's famous work "Victory" on the walls on both sides. In front of the palace is Florence's busiest Piazza della Signoria, where the equestrian statue of "Father of the Homeland" Cosimo surveys the entire square. The adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi houses many ancient and Renaissance-style marble figure sculptures.
Pitti Palace: One of Florence's most magnificent buildings, it was the residence of the Medici Family. Built in 1487, it was possibly designed by Brunelleschi. It was expanded in the 16th century by Ammannati. Its facade is 205 meters long and 36 meters high, constructed with massive rough-hewn stones. The only decorations are lion head sculptures between the supports of the ground-floor windows.
...
Such a famous city, even compared to Rome, was no less impressive; in some aspects, it could even firmly overshadow Rome.
As he thought about it, Augustus recalled those days when everything was permitted, everything was void, everything was solid, when he was unmatched in events, and when he made leaps of faith.
But now it was clearly not like that; everything was so real, without a hint of illusion. Things that were once out of reach were now tangible, but at the same time, dangers that were once impossible to experience could now happen to him at any moment. He had to think carefully about what he could and could not do.
What frustrated Augustus was that, given his current identity and experiences, he should be very familiar with this place, because he was not only not a tourist but also coming home. However, his knowledge of this place was entirely based on books and satellite images he had seen before.
Familiar? How could that be? What if he revealed a flaw? Should he say he didn't remember things from childhood or that he had amnesia?
Coming home? After many years away, what kind of emotion should one feel upon returning to their hometown? Augustus pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with anything. He had never experienced being away from home for many years, and to ask himself to find the feeling of coming home to an almost unfamiliar city was simply too difficult!