Croatia's Korcula is believed to be the homeland of the explorer Marco Polo.

According to most historical records, explorer Marco Polo was born in 1254. That date may well be beyond dispute, but his birthplace is contested.

For Croatians, Polo was born on the Croatian island of Korcula.

The Polo family were inveterate navigators, and from an early age, Marco is said to have had an adventurous bent.

Eventually, Polo would travel through Asia along the Silk Road, between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo, in which he said he came to China in 1275 and lived in China for 17 years. He is considered an important contributor to cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

Korcula is one of Croatia's largest islands, and a three-story stone house in which Polo is said to have lived still stands.