What do we really know about Marco Polo?

In 1271, the Venetian merchant Marco Polo set off with his father and uncle on a legendary trek across Asia. Over the course of his 24-year journey, Polo would become one of the first Europeans to chronicle the cities, cultures and technology of the Far East. read more

Very little indeed. The stories that are told under his name were, it was claimed told to a fellow prisoner while they were both in jail, then written and published by him. read more

Exploring the Truth: 10 Facts on the Real Marco Polo While Netflix gets ready to launch its original series, 'Marco Polo,' we thought we'd explore the real Marco Polo and decipher the man from the many myths. read more

After twenty years of traveling, Marco, along with his father and uncle, decided to head home to Venice. They left home in 1271 and finally returned in 1295. A few years after returning home, Venice fought a war with the city of Genoa. Marco was put under arrest. read more

15 Surprising Facts About Marco Polo iStock Born in the Republic of Venice in 1254, Marco Polo was a trader, traveler, and adventurer, who (probably*) journeyed to Central Asia and China in an era when vast swaths of the world were still uncharted and just traveling to a neighboring town could take you days. read more

Marco Polo’s stories about his travels in Asia were published as a book called The Description of the World, later known as The Travels of Marco Polo. Just a few years after returning to Venice from China, Marco commanded a ship in a war against the rival city of Genoa. read more