Fabrizio Mordente was born in Salerno, Italy, and studied at the Università di Napoli. After completing his studies at the age of 20, he set out to see the world. He left Naples in 1552 and visited Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia. After reaching the Persian Gulf, he took a Portuguese ship to India. He stayed in Goa for three years and then continued his voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, eventually arriving in Lisbon. He went from there to Paris and visited other European cities before returning to Italy and visiting Venice, Florence and Rome. During this trip he drafted the initial design for his compass.
