On 4-5 and 11-12 September 2026, as every two years in even years, Marostica, in the Province of Vicenza, hosts the beautiful Live Chess Game (Partita a Scacchi) with living pawns and participants in costume.
The Marostica Live Chess Game is the reenactment of the story of Lionora, the daughter of the Lord of Marostica, and of her two young suitors Rinaldo d’Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara.
The story dates back to 1454. According to the legend, two valiant knights, Rinaldo D’Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, fell in love with the beautiful Lionora, the daughter of the Marostica noble lord and challenged each other to a duel.
To avoid needless bloodshed, the girl’s father, Lord Taddeo Parisio, decided that Lionora would marry the winner of a chess game, while the loser would marry her younger sister.
The chess game had to be played with living pawns equipped with armstook in Piazza del Castello da Basso.
Every two years in September, Marostica remembers this event and in Piazza degli Scacchi it hosts the reenactment of that famous chess game. As it is impossible to reproduce the original moves made by the two knigths, the organizers get inspiration from some of the greatest chess games of all time.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Approximately 3,600 people, seated in numbered rows, can watch the performance…
To be updated, see the site>>> or the Facebook page>>>
For more information: Pro Marostica Association
Tel. +39 0424 72127
or send an email to the Marostica Tourist office >>>
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photo from the facebook page of the Live Chess game
