Marostica, a typical Italian medieval hill-town in Veneto is known for two famous festivals. The first celebrates the unique heart-shaped cherries that grow in the area and the second involves a chess game played using human beings on a giant marble-inlaid chessboard in one of the main squares of the town. The Marostica Human Chess Game has ancient origins in the city, connected to local legend and is an absolute spectacle to behold. Taking place on even numbered years, the next game will be in September 2016, however, you can visit the chessboard whenever you like and try it out for yourself. Find a luxury villa in Veneto and visit next September to see the real deal or, if you can't wait that long, pop by and have a run around the board with some friends.
In 1454, when the small town of Marostica was still part of the Venetian Republic., two knights, became involved in a conflict over a lady. The men, Rinaldo D’Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, challenged each other to a duel to win the hand of Lionora Parisio. Her father, Taddeo, Lord of Marostica Castle, stepped in and refused to allow them to duel, not wanting either to be injured or to make an enemy of either man. He forbade them to duel in under the Cangrande della Scala’s Edict and told them to play a game of chess instead with the winner to marry Lionora and the loser to marry her younger sister, Oldrada. The challenge was made into a large spectacle with a performance of armed men, jesters and knights, fireworks, dances and music.
This historic event is re-enacted every two years in September, drawing people from all over Italy to come see the black and white knight compete, each calling out their move with costumed players moving accordingly. The re-enactment involves over 550 characters taking part in four games and lasts around two hours. With a rather small population, pretty much everyone in town is involved and all the characters from the original story appear, the Lord, daughters, knights and more, all in 15th century costume. The game begins once the sun sets and archers in the towers of the castle shoot flaming arrows down to the edges of the chess board, bringing the chessboard to life in a burst of flames. Other than the main event, there are parades, period dances, music, and fireworks, recreating the Renaissance.
The projected dates for the next festival are the 9th to the 11th of September, 2016 and tickets must be purchased to attend the actual match. However, even if you're not visiting for the festival, be sure to stop by the Piazza degli Scacchi on your next visit to the Veneto region.
This historic event is re-enacted every two years in September, drawing people from all over Italy to come see the black and white knight compete, each calling out their move with costumed players moving accordingly. The re-enactment involves over 550 characters taking part in four games and lasts around two hours. With a rather small population, pretty much everyone in town is involved and all the characters from the original story appear, the Lord, daughters, knights and more, all in 15th century costume. The game begins once the sun sets and archers in the towers of the castle shoot flaming arrows down to the edges of the chess board, bringing the chessboard to life in a burst of flames. Other than the main event, there are parades, period dances, music, and fireworks, recreating the Renaissance.
The projected dates for the next festival are the 9th to the 11th of September, 2016 and tickets must be purchased to attend the actual match. However, even if you're not visiting for the festival, be sure to stop by the Piazza degli Scacchi on your next visit to the Veneto region.
Photo credits: Alessandro Vecchi / CC BY-SA 3.0;