This is probably the most famous chess game in Italy, inspired by a story that is supposed to have been set in 1454.

The initiative to organize this chess game played in the central square and with living characters came from two university students, Mirko Vucetich and Francesco Pozza, who had the idea of and implemented this historical re-enactment in 1923.
About 600 figures dressed in medieval costumes, horses, armed knights, flag-wavers, jogglers and fire-breathers, ladies and gentlemen, provide the setting for this game of chess representing the challenge between Rinaldo d'Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara. Marostica was an ally of Venice at the time. Two knights, Rinaldo d'Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, both fell in love with the beautiful Lionora, daughter to the governor of Marostica, and they challenged one another in a duel for her love. The governor, who did not want to antagonize either of them, decided that he would give his daughter in marriage to the winner of "the noble game of chess", which had to be held with living pieces in the parade ground. The loser would in any case tie to the governor's family by marrying Oldrada, Lionora's governor sister.

In memory of this event, the Living Chess Game is played in the splendid Piazza Castello, the castle square, every two years in September in Marostica. As no witness was left to reproduce the original moves of the two contenders, the decision was made to take two classical chess games as reference, the Immortal game and the Evergreen game.

Match 2024

6/7/8 SEPTEMBER 2024
The show opens on Friday 6th September at 9 p.m. and it is repeated on Saturday 7th at 9 p.m., Sunday 8th at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Each performance is attended by about 3600 spectators, seated in numbered seats in comfortable grandstands.

Exhibition "NEL SEGNO DI VUCETICH. Opere della donazione Breganze dai Musei Civici di Vicenza"

From 23 August 2024

Exhibition dedicated to the creator of the Chess Game with Living Characters: Mario Mirko Vucetich
in the Halls of the Marostica Lower Castle.

INAUGURATION of the exhibition at 5pm on August 23rd

Opening hours 09:00-13:00 / 14:30-18:30

Info and reservations:

Associazione Pro Marostica
Tel. +39. 0424.72127
info@marosticascacchi.it
www.marosticascacchi.it

FREE Shuttle Bus Service

Sunday 8 September 2024
During the Chess Game event with Living Characters in Marostica
and the Nove -Portoni Aperti Ceramics Festival 2024
the Municipalities of Marostica and Nove will provide a free transport service (MINIBUS 16 SEATS).

Route: MAROSTICA - NOVE (round trip)

DEPARTURES EVERY HOUR
From 10.00 to 12.00
From 2.00 pm to 8.30 pm

DESKS AND STOPS
MAROSTICA: Infopoint La Stazione, Viale Stazione 3 - Cell. 371 4240125

NOVE: Parking Via Rizzi, near Pasticceria Marcon - Cell. 320 4794986