Marostica

The square in front of the lower castle is paved as a chessboard, and in even-numbered Septembers the Partita a Scacchi is played on it with costumed people as the pieces, moved on called commands, with several hundred performers in fifteenth-century dress, horses and flag-throwers. The event was first staged in 1954 and takes as its story a legend of two suitors ordered to settle their rivalry over a lord's daughter by chess rather than by duel. Walls climb the hill from the lower castle to an upper one on the ridge. Marostica cherries have protected status and have their own festival in late spring.

History

Between the 11th and 13th centuries the town was strongly influenced by the Ezzelini, a leading medieval family of the Veneto, who were finally defeated in 1260, and Marostica later became Venetian. Its human chess game is played in the square every two years, in even-numbered years, on the second weekend of September (Wikipedia, Marostica).

What to look for

• The chessboard square - a paved board in front of the lower castle.
• The living chess match - a costumed game staged in even Septembers.
• The hill walls - ramparts climbing between the lower and upper castles.
• The cherries - a protected local crop with a spring festival.

When to go

September of even years for the chess match, which runs over several evenings and is ticketed and sold out early. The cherry festival is in late May or June.

Before you go

The chess match happens only every two years and tickets sell out months ahead. Outside it the square is just a paved board. The town is small.

Nearby

Bassano del Grappa lies east; Asolo is southeast.

Key facts