Anewly discovered manuscript of Il Milione, Marco Polo’s famous account of his travels, has been found in the Biblioteca Diocesana Ludovico Jacobilli in Foligno, a historic town in the Umbria region of central Italy. The discovery is significant also due to its timing, as it coincides with the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death (1254–1324), an event being commemorated through academic conferences and cultural events across the country, but especially in Polo’s hometown, Venezia.  

Polo was a Venetian merchant and explorer whose accounts of travels to Asia, particularly to the Mongol Empire under Kublai Khan, captured Europe and reshaped perceptions of the East. He traveled for 24 years, visiting regions that were, at the time, largely unknown to the Western world.  His detailed descriptions of the customs, cultures, and wealth of Asia — especially China — fascinated readers upon his return.