Explorer · 1254 – 1324
Marco Polo
Little-Known Facts
- He dictated his book while imprisoned in Genoa, to a fellow prisoner and writer named Rustichello of Pisa.
- The book's Italian nickname, Il Milione, may refer to his family name or to the 'million' wonders he described.
Myths & Misconceptions
Did Marco Polo bring pasta to Italy from China?
No. This is a popular myth; pasta existed in Italy well before his travels, and his book makes no such claim.