Marco Polo : a photographer's journey

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Armed with four cameras, a dozen lenses, 1,000 rolls of film, and a copy of Marco Polo's Il Milione, Michael Yamashita set out to trace the footsteps of the great 13th-century adventurer. For four years, the award-winning Japanese photographer followed the route of the legendary Venetian merchant and ambassador to Kublai Khan's court, Marco Polo, who was the first European to venture into China. Polo's travel stories captivated audiences during his lifetime, as they depicted a world vastly different from Europe. His detailed and sensitive descriptions of lands and peoples stood out from the often bloody tales of other writers. Today, his accounts remain popular. Yamashita, inspired by Polo's narratives, crossed mountain passes and traversed deserts, exploring countries like Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan for a National Geographic series. Using Polo's notes from 1299 as a guide, he discovered scenes likely similar to those Polo encountered: reed houses in Basra, jade mines in Khotan, and fish farms in Hangzhou. The finest photographs are compiled in a stunning volume, complemented by introductory texts from historian Gianni Guadalupi, historical images, and quotes from Il Milione.