Have you just had a look at the Rialto Bridge?
Well, then you shouldn’t miss the Corte Seconda del Milion. Once arrived at the campo have a look around: You are standing in front of the property of the Polo family. Exactly! The family of the famous Venetian discoverer; and in a minute I’ll take you to his former home.
Marco Polo
was born in Venice in 1254 and went to China (to the court of the emperor Qubilay Khan), together with his father and uncle, when he was only 17 years old.
Marco Polo turned back to his hometown only 21 years later, but instead of enjoying the last years of his life in the city on the water, Marco was captured during the battle of the Curzolari (1298).
This stroke of fate in the life of Marco Polo, represents one of the most important events for Literature and History as one of the prisoners (Rustichello da Pisa) wrote down Marco Polo’s life during their imprisonment: the Milione was born, Marco Polo’s biography.
The Palazzo of the Polo family
Cross the sotoportego (passageway) to Fondamenta del Teatro and have a look to your left: In front of you rises the theatre Malibran, once home to Marco Polo (before being transformed into a theatre in 1678).
A slab still commemorates one of Venice’s most famous citizens.
