Venice marks 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death with year of events

A man wears a mask and holds a replica of Marco Polo’s travelogue as part of the Venice carnival (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Venice is marking the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo with a year of commemorations, starting with the opening of carnival season honouring one of the lagoon city’s most illustrious native sons.

Kicking off carnival at the weekend, about 600 rowers in period dress raised their oars in salute and shouted “We are all Marco Polo” as they rowed along the Grand Canal from St Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge.