Italy is to retrace the classic journey that took Venetian explorer Marco Polo on horseback to China.
A team of horsemen from Perugia is gearing up to retrace the Venetian explorer's route along the ancient Silk Road, using the same kind of horses Marco Polo did on his historic journey to the great 13th-century Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.
"We'll face the same kind of challenges our illustrious predecessor did, travelling over extremely varied terrain: plains, valleys, high mountain tracks and deserts," said the leader of the expedition, Piero Lapiana.
The expedition includes veterinary researchers from Perugia University who will gauge how the horses perform on the various stages of the mission, crossing 16 countries in 15 months starting this autumn.
The horses will be the hardy 'maremmana' breed, from the marshlands of Lazio and southern Tuscany - similar to the tough pack-horses used by Marco Polo, his brother Maffeo and father Niccolo'.
Before the expedition sets out, they will be trained to tackle rough terrain by experts from Perugia University's Equestrian Studies Centre.
The team, which will include a surgeon, a photographer and a staff of vets, will also conduct research on the various horse breeds to be found along the route today.
"We'll be looking for signs of the 'maremmana' in the Asian horses, and vice versa," said the head of Perugia's Veterinary Faculty, Franco Moriconi.
Marco Polo is widely remembered as the first Westerner to reach China, but he was in fact preceded by his father and brother, also Venetian traders, who met the Khan in 1266.
The teenage Polo joined them on a second journey in 1271.
He became a favourite of the Khan, who employed him on trade and diplomatic missions for 17 years.
Overall, Marco Polo spent 24 years in the East, recording his adventures in the famous book Il Milione.
