
![]() |
Marco Polo’s birthplace |
Since there is no clear evidence but the local legend, the more definite evidence is that the Republic of Genoa defeated Venice in the documented Battle of Curzola off the coast of Korčula in 1298 and a galley commander, Marco Polo, was taken prisoner by the victors to eventually spend his time in a Genoese prison writing of his travels.
Marco Polo was an Italian merchant traveler from the Republic of Venice whose travels are recorded in Livres des merveilles du monde a book written in Old French by Rustichello da Pisa. This book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China is in English commonly called The Travels of Marco Polo.
Marco learned the merchandise trade from his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo.
Before the birth of Marco, Niccolò and Maffeo became merchants and established trading posts in Constantinople, Sudak in the Crimea and in a western part of the Mongol Empire.Marco’s epic journey starts in 1271 when he was 17.
![]() |
Livres des merveilles du monde He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married and had three children. He died in 1324, and it has been rumored that Marco Polo was buried in San Lorenzo church, but more likely he was buried at the no longer extant San Sebastiano. If you want to feel the connection with those old adventurous times,check out of our6 day Dubrovnik to Split – Self Guided Bike Tourwhere you have chance to spend 2 days in amazing Korcula town,birthplace of Marco Polo! |