The beauty and history of Chios captivated European travelers who wanted to follow in Homer's footsteps and visit the places where the epic poet lived. A typical example was Cristoforo Buondelmonti. A monk from Florence and a geographer, he visited Chios in the early 15th century, seeking, like so many travelers after him, the traces of Homer. In 1406 he settled in Rhodes where he stayed for about eight years. He learned Greek, then went to Istanbul and for the next six years visited islands in the Aegean as well as Cyprus. In 1415, based on the maps and texts of Ptolemy and Pliny, he explored Crete. His work entitled "The Book of Islands'' was written in 1420 and it is the oldest traveler’s text accompanied by colored maps for each island. In it, Buondelmonti narrates, among others, his impressions of the island of Chios. This was the first work presenting all the available information concerning Homer's life and tomb.