De viris illustribus
"Africa" and "De viris illustribus" were partially inspired by Petrarch's visit to Rome in 1337. According to Bergin and Wilson (p. ix). "It seems very likely that the inspirational vision of the Eternal City must have been the immediate spur to the design of the "Africa" and probably "De viris illustribus" as well." After returning from his grand tour, the first sections of Africa were written in the valley of Vaucluse. Petrarch recalls