The Great Gate Marco Polo, a gigantic art work by world-reknowned sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, stands beside the Italian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. It is the largest sculpture in the expo, Mr. Umberto Vattani, president of the Italian Trade Commission, said today.

The sculpture represents the extraordinary story of the Venetian merchant adventurer, Marco Polo, who gave the West its first detailed description of China in his book The Travels of Marco Polo. The square in front of the Italian Pavilion is also named after Marco Polo.

Vattani said bringing the sculpture to Shanghai was intended to honor Marco Polo, represent two great civilizations in an age of globalization, and – most importantly – to symbolize the friendship between China and Italy.

"We have chosen this most meaningful bronze sculpture and we hope it will last forever," he added.

The Great Gate Marco Polo is 12 meters high, 10 meters wide, and weighs 31 tons. Made up of 16 separate bronze pieces, the sculpture's two sides represent Western and Chinese civilizations.

Because the the sculpture is so huge, it was not easy to ship it from Milan to Shanghai and install it in the Expo grounds.

"It was the efforts of all the hard working people at the Expo that made this impossible mission possible," said Vattani.