This year in Marostica there will once again be a chess game with people dressed up as the chess pieces.
The tradition of the chess game originates in 1454 when Marostica was one of the “fedelissime” towns of the Venetian Republic. Two noble warriors, Rinaldo d'Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, both fell in love with Lionora, the beautiful daughter of Taddeo Parisio Castellano di Marostica and so, as was normal in those times, challenged each other to a bitter dual.
However, Castellano did not want to fall out or lose either of the young men and therefore banned the dual with the support and edict of Cangrande della Scala.  He decided that Lionora would be betrothed to whomever of the two won a noble game of chess: the loser would have still become one of his relatives and was to marry Oldrada, her younger sister.
The match was to take place on a holiday in the Castello da Basso square, with large and live pieces, armed and wearing each of the nobles’ coat of arms in front of Castellano, his noble daughter, Lords di Angarano and di Vallonara, nobles and common people alike.
He also decided that the challenge would be marked by an on field demonstration of the armed forces, horsemen and cavaliers, fireworks, dancing and music. The event was attended by the armed forces, archers, crossbow men, halberdiers, horsemen and cavaliers, Castellan, his court and his daughter Lionora (excited because she was secretly in love with one of the nobles), the wet nurse, dames, gentlemen, the herald, the army captain, the falconer, pages and dames, flag carriers, musicians, land owners and villagers along with the black and white chess pieces with relative King and Queen, castles and knights, bishops and pawns and the two rivals who dictated the moves to be made.; under the orders of Castellano the event was finished off with a fireworks display .
This event is repeated in the present day, as it was the first time.   Magnificent costumes, picturesque suites, multi-coloured banners and martial parades accompany the game that is still surrounded by the courteous atmosphere that characterised the original event and that, miraculously, is brought back to life in the present.
The orders given to the chess pieces are still pronounced in the original Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia language.

The event has over 550 figures and lasts about two hours.

TIMES AND PRICES:

FRIDAY 8th September 2006 at 9pm
SATURDAY 9th September 2006 at 9pm
SUNDAY 10th September 2006 at 5pm and at 9pm

Friday 8th September 2006 at 9pm
Central stand 60.00 Euro
Side stand 50.00 Euro
Step seating 30.00 Euro

Sunday 10th September 2006 at 5pm
Central stand 25.00 Euro
Side stand 20.00 Euro
Step seating 10.00 Euro
Saturday 9th September 2006 at 9pm
Central stand 80.00 Euro
Side stand 70.00 Euro
Step seating 40.00 Euro

Sunday 10th September 2006 at 9pm
Central stand 60.00 Euro
Side stand 45.00 Euro
Step seating 20.00 Euro

INFORMATION AND BOOKING:
TEL +39 0424 72127
www.marosticascacchi.it