Marco Polo parchment sheds light on last year of his life in Venice

Document supports theory that Polo had close ties to friars who may have helped edit travel book

Researchers in Venice have discovered a document that strengthens the theory that a group of friars played a hand in the revision of Marco Polo’s book about his travels.

The legendary merchant and explorer set off from Venice in 1271 at the age of 17 and spent more than two decades travelling through Asia. He returned to Venice in 1295 and was imprisoned in Genoa three years later after becoming embroiled in a naval conflict between the two cities.

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