Tourism

In Italy in September it will be possible to play Live Chess

A huge number of chess fans will gather again in the Italian city of Marostica to play a very unusual version of this game.

In the city of Marostica, located a hundred kilometers from Venice, the next medieval chess festival will be held from September 12 to 14. It is held every two years and attracts thousands of Italians and tourists who personally want to watch the game of “live chess”. And they are alive because the locals dressed up in old costumes take the place of pieces on a chessboard. And all this colorful action takes place right on the central square of the city.

Italians know Marostica as a "chess city." This place boasts its own amazingly beautiful legend, whose roots go back to the distant 15th century. According to the legend, it all started back in 1454, when Rinaldo d'Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, young wars from fairly distinguished families, fell in love with the same beauty, the daughter of Taddeo Parisio (Taddeo Parisio), head of the city of Marostica. In those distant and far from humane times, such dramas of a heart character were resolved in a duel. However, Mr. Parisio categorically refused to agree to a banal fight or battle: he did not want to lose one of his soldiers or become the sworn enemy of the loser. That is why the cunning and resourceful lord of the city invited his opponents to play chess. The loser would unconditionally marry Lionor (that was the name of the girl), and the loser would get the second daughter of Taddeo - Orlanda.

The whole city froze in anticipation of an intellectual duel, but until a few hundred years remained before the appearance of television screens, the spectacle problem was solved as follows: Parisio gave the order to remake the main square of Marostica into a huge chess field. When everything was ready, the head of the city, as well as the prizes of the duel (Lyonora and Orlanda) took their places in the box in order to direct the townspeople dressed in figures to go from there. The story is silent about who won the game, and who got the second place. It is only known that after the match in Marostik large-scale festivities and festivities began, which lasted for several more days and gradually flowed into weddings.

The idea of ​​the medieval lord Marostiki has been preserved to this day. And today, the main city square looks like a giant chessboard, on which live queens, kings and queens (residents dressed in local traditional costumes of ancient times) are walking around. The action begins with the appearance of a rider galloping across the square on a horse. He stops near the castle, throwing a glove on the floor, which symbolizes the challenge. After that, the gates of the castle are opened, and modern Taddeos and Lionora come out of them, accompanied by court ladies and husbands, to which applicants for the beauty’s hand later join.

Soon the party itself begins: the herald loudly announces moves, and the “pieces” on the board begin to move actively around the board until the end of the game. Check and checkmate is indicated by the roar of pipes and the roar of drums, and then Lionora and her future husband solemnly go around the square, holding hands. Each festival plays a new game, played once in reality by the most talented grandmasters of our time. In total, up to a thousand characters take part in the pageant.

The organization of each performance is a very painstaking work that is definitely worth the effort. As mentioned earlier, a game of "live" chess is played once every two years, in even years. This September, tickets to the stands, from where you can watch the performance, as Taddeo did five centuries ago, will cost you from 15 to 90 euros, depending on the day of the presentation, as well as the location.

Hotels in Marostik

Marostika is a small town and it has only 7 hotels. Accommodation prices are much lower than Rome and Milan and are in the range of 50-80 euros per night. In the days of the festival, we advise you to take care of booking a hotel room in advance.

View accommodation options in Marostik

How to get to Marostica

Since there is no railway station in Marostik, the only comfortable transport is a car. You can compare all options for car rental in Italy and book the most profitable on the site auto.italy4.me

From Milan

Take the A4 motorway towards Venice and take the A31 towards Piovene Rocchette. After this, take the SS 248 Marosticana-Schiavonesca highway towards Marostiki.

From venice

You should take the A4 motorway in the direction of Malina, after turning on Grisignano di Zocco (Grisignano di Zocco) turn towards Piovene Rocquete. Next, turn onto the SS 248 Marostikana Schiavonesca highway in the direction of Marostiki.

From padua

From Padova, take the SS 47 motorway towards Bassano del Grappa, then turn towards Marostiki.

Airports

Venice - Verona - Treviso - Milan.

Official website of the Chess Festival: www.marosticascacchi.it

Watch the video: Banter Blitz Chess with GM Adhiban - September 17, 2017 (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Tourism, Next Article

Cologne residents
Germany

Cologne residents

The Germans consider Cologne a very fun and cheerful city. Locals are famous for their openness, tranquility and a keen sense of humor. And Cologne beer is called in the same way as the inhabitants of the city - Kölsch. The Germans consider Cologne a very fun and cheerful city. Locals are famous for their openness, tranquility and a keen sense of humor.
Read More
New Town Hall in Munich
Germany

New Town Hall in Munich

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), photo by Suvad Sulic One of the historical and architectural sights of Munich is the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), located on Marienplatz Square. This is a neo-Gothic style masterpiece. Gothic arches, turrets and "lace" give the building a medieval look, despite the fact that the New Town Hall began to be built at the end of the 19th century, and was being completed and expanded.
Read More
Restaurants on Ringstrasse
Germany

Restaurants on Ringstrasse

Overview of restaurants on the Ringstrasse in Cologne Linh Lan. You can find this Vietnamese restaurant by its flavors spreading from the kitchen. Also a large selection of Thai and Chinese dishes. Address: Engelbertstrasse, 3. Opening hours: daily 11.00-23.00. Sushi Nara 2. The best sushi bar in town. A neutral sushi conveyor surrounded by tall chairs.
Read More
Brandenburg Gate
Germany

Brandenburg Gate

Without knowing the history, we can say that this is the usual triumphal gate, of which there are many in Europe. But when you remember our grandfathers, you understand that you need to visit here and stand nearby. The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of victory, a symbol of the unification of people and their families. This is like the Kremlin in Moscow or Times Square in New York.
Read More