Marco Polo in the 21st century: is it still possible to "travel" today?

700 years ago, Marco Polo entrusted his travel memoirs to history. Since then, much has changed, and the world has reached a global and supranational dimension, so much so that it is legitimate to wonder what value this activity has today. Prof. Claudio Visentin, lecturer in Cultural History of Tourism at the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), tackled the issue on the radio broadcast "Alphaville" on Rete Due (RSI).

"Marco Polo is regarded as an extraordinary traveller, and there are probably few who can match him, even in later centuries," explained Professor Claudio Visentin. "However, his journey was not unique. In fact, it must be contextualised in a historical moment of great openness that began after the year 1000, which historians define as the first globalisation. If Marco Polo's adventures stir so much interest today, it is also because they are set within a moment of great openness in the world." As Professor Visentin explained, this first phase of globalisation began with the extraordinary - but at the same time ferocious - feat of Genghis Khan, who conquered Asia. The unification of the Asian continent, achieved through violent means, paved the way for connections previously deemed unattainable, leading to further development.

The reign of the Mongolian Khan serves as a prime example of a point made by the USI professor: throughout history, violent events have often been instrumental in reducing distances between different places on the planet and facilitating global connectivity. "Travelling becomes, in these cases, a tool for getting to know the other and for dialogue. It challenges you and forces you to have alternative points of view. Contrary to what we would often like to believe, it is rough and edgy. We may wish it were easier, but it forces us to confront what is different."

In conclusion, Professor Visentin reflected on the possibility of travelling nowadays, reminding us that there are many countries we know nothing about and that are full of exciting experiences: there is still so much to discover. "The world remains significantly larger and more interesting than we realise. Sometimes what is missing is the traveller rather than the journey, due to this nostalgic idea that the golden age of travel is over and therefore it is no longer possible to travel like we used to, but this is not true."

The full episode of "Alphaville" is available at the following link. (Italian only)