Tradition has it that while commanding a Venetian galley, Marco was captured in a sea battle with the Genoese, who were at war with Venice.
يُقال ان ماركو پولو أملى كتابه على شخص يُدعى روستيتشيلّو في سجن بمدينة جَنَوا سنة ١٢٩٨ .‏