Marostica: Living Chess, Castles and Cherry Culture
Accommodation in Marostica
Castles, Squares and Living Chess
The living chess game takes place every two years in September in Piazza Castello. Around 600 performers in medieval costumes take part in the game. In 1923, university students Mirko Vucetich and Francesco Pozza proposed the living chess game as a historical re-enactment.
Castello Inferiore is a square, battlemented fortress with a tall keep and two drawbridges. Inside, visitors can currently see twelve frescoed and partially furnished rooms, six cells in the tower and the rampart walk. For visits, Castello Inferiore is open daily except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Castello Superiore stands on Colle Pausolino and dominates the walled town of Marostica. The courtyard of Castello Superiore is currently closed and is opened only on special occasions such as exhibitions or events, with prior notice.
Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta is the oldest evidence of the Christian faith in Marostica and probably dates back to the Early Middle Ages. Its Baroque façade and three bronze doors with pictorial panels depict episodes from the Bible and the life of Christ.
Routes and Countryside
The Cammino di Ronda begins at the Torre della Compagnia delle Mura. Qualified staff sell admission tickets at the Torre della Compagnia delle Mura and fit visitors with safety harnesses before they walk the panoramic route independently. The eastern section of the Cammino di Ronda on Marostica's city walls has been accessible since 2014. The eastern section of the Cammino di Ronda is 8 to 12 metres high and 70 centimetres wide. The Cammino di Ronda is open on Sundays and public holidays from March to November.
The Sentiero dei Ciliegi leads from Pianezze to Marostica via the Roveredo Alto district and passes through the San Luca district. The Sentiero dei Ciliegi runs through a landscape characterised by cherry trees and offers views of the hills and the plain of Marostica.
Gorghi Scuri is a wetland with pools and small waterfalls along the Valletta stream. The waters of Gorghi Scuri serve as a breeding ground for salamanders and provide migratory birds with a resting place during their long journeys.
Cherries and Local Culture
The annual Cherry Festival takes place on the last Sunday in May in Piazza Castello and offers the opportunity to taste and buy cherries from Marostica. The festival includes a market, tastings and entertainment. In 2001, Ciliegia di Marostica received European recognition as a PGI product. PGI stands for “protected geographical indication” and refers to a European designation of origin for food products.
The Ecomuseo della Paglia is located in Crosara, a hilly district of Marostica, and is part of the Alto Vicentino museum network.
Further destinations: Gallio, Asiago, Pedemonte, Conco, Bassano Del Grappa, Roana, Campese, Carré
To the overarching travel overview: Vicenza.
