About this item
Most travellers want to have fun and feel relaxed from the moment they arrive at their holiday destination - that's what Marco Polo Guides are all about. This new series will appeal to all types of travellers, including those who haven't bought a travel guide in the past! Marco Polo's unique "insider tips" are peppered throughout the guide - offering a real insight into the destination. Includes special tips for when it rains, things to do for free, chill out & relax. Where to start - tells the reader the ideal starting point to explore the city / destination, how to get there: by car or public transport, where to park the car… and much more! The perfect day / perfect route - the best way to get to know a destination for those with limited time.
About the Author
Marco Polo (Listeni/?m??rko? ?po?lo?/; Italian pronunciation: [?marko ?p??lo]; 1254 - January 8-9, 1324) was a Venetian merchant traveller whose travels are recorded in Livres des merveilles du monde (Book of the Marvels of the World, also known as The Travels of Marco Polo, c. 1300) , a book that introduced Europeans to Central Asia and China.
He learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, who travelled through Asia, and met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa; Marco was imprisoned and dictated his stories to a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice.
Marco Polo was not the first European to reach China (see Europeans in Medieval China) , but he was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. This book inspired Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. There is a substantial literature based on Polo's writings; he also influenced European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Fra Mauro map.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Grevembrock (Scanné de Coureurs des mers, Poivre d'Arvor.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
