600 residents become human chess pieces in this Italian town every two years — all because two men loved the same woman in 1454
A bloodless duel between two knights has created an everlasting impact on this Italian town
There are plenty of unusual traditions scattered across the world, but few can match the sheer spectacle of Marostica. Every two years, this quaint town, with a population of only around 14,000 residents, transforms into a stunning stage for a living game of chess. More than 650 people take part in this tradition, which dates back to the 15th century, because two noble knights, Vieri da Vallonara and Rinaldo d’Angarano, fell in love with the same woman, Lionora, the daughter of Taddeo Parisio, lord of Marostica, according to Marostica Scacchi.
A deadly rivalry averted
The story began when Vallonara and d'Angarano prepared to cross blades in 1454 because both had hopelessly fallen in love with Lionara. This feud threatened bloodshed. So, the ruler, Parisio, decided to intervene to protect his soldiers and end this rivalry for good. Rather than losing two valuable soldiers, he came up with an unexpected solution: both the knights would settle their courtship over an open-air game of chess with living pieces. He ruled that the winner would be given the hand of Lionora, while the loser would marry her younger sister, Oldrada.
The match in the square
Both the knights accepted the challenge, taking their seats in the central piazza beneath the castle walls. The two men then fought their battle through tactical wit and strategic movement before the assembled town. However, historical records never preserved who—Vallonara or d'Angarano—won the game. Nonetheless, the match itself left an indelible mark on the town's history for replacing lethal violence with intellect.
Revival of the tradition
The memory of this bloodless duel endured for centuries until 1923, when Marostica organized its first formal modern re-enactment. Using the original medieval setting framed by the castle and the Asiago foothills, the residents painted a massive chessboard directly across the stone square. The first edition saw two local chess champions compete against each other, but from 1954 the organizers decided to re-enact some of the best games in chess history. Aside from interruptions during both World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic, Marostica has regularly staged its modern human chess tradition since its revival in the 1920s.
The modern living game
Known today as the "Partita a Sicacchi," the festival takes place every two years during the second weekend of September. More than 600 locals fill the square dressed as 15th-century nobles, soldiers, and jesters. Meanwhile, trained performers take the board as living pieces. High above the board, two chess masters call out every move to direct the intricate choreography, guiding a predetermined historic matchup. Furthermore, apart from Italy, these performances have taken place in several countries such as France, Australia, Belgium, and even the USA.
Chess is taking over
In fact, the United States has hosted these performances six times. This goes to show just how big chess is within the country. According to a YouGov survey, around 21% or around 1 in 5 Americans play chess at least once in a while. This number climbs to 28% among people aged 18 to 44, highlighting the game's appeal to younger and older audiences. Moreover, 73% of the players report being intrigued by chess' mental challenge, while 52% love the competition.
They should invite grandmasters
Upon discovering Marostica's long-standing tradition, people were left stunned. They decided to take to social media to express their opinions under a post by @miotravel_. @matilainen119 stated, "They should invite chess grandmasters to do this." At the same time, @sanmarco48 commented, "Was there with my parents with the Chicago Veneto nel Mondo group in the 1980s. Didn't see a match, but it was wonderful to hear the history and wander on the board."
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