Marco Polo visiting Armenia and Armenian Cilicia

1271, the Venetian explorer Marco Polo begins his journey from Ayas (Layas) to China:

"The Armenians have a city on the sea, which is called Layas, where a great trade is carried on. Because, you must know, all sorts of spices, silken and gold-braided goods and other precious wares are brought from the interior to this city. The merchants of Venice and Genoa and other countries come to this place to sell and buy goods. And whoever wishes to travel to the East be he merchant or otherwise, sets out from this city of Layas"