Marostica & The Chess Game

We went last weekend to the “Partita al nobil ziogo de li schacchi,” the Chess Game which is a tradition in a small hill town about 40 miles from Padova, Marostica. I can’t remember now how I found out about the famous chess game that is played only in the even-numbered years on the first weekend in September (so obviously it was our destiny was to attend), but I’m guessing that it was through Sam’s chess club or chess teacher. Chess in Italian is scacchi (pronounced ska-kee). The chess game recreates a story from 1454 when two men both wanted to marry the beautiful (of course) Lionora, the daughter of the lord of the Marostica castle. Instead of the usual duel, he declared that they would play a chess game, thereby saving the life of one of the suitors and the “loser” would win the hand of Lionora’s younger sister. The story continues that the game should take place in the square at the lower castle (there were two) and should include a festival, entertainment and armed living persons as the chess pieces. And that is exactly what we got to see – a Renaissance festival & chess game. There were over 500 kids & adults participating as actors, fire jugglers, clowns, archers with fire-bearing arrows, living chess pieces, flag twirlers, drummers, court jesters, dancers, fireworks, etc. We think everyone who lives in that town is in the show, community theatre at its finest. The whole show was about 3 hours (with no breaks) and the chess game itself was probably only about 30 minutes. But it was just incredible – the chess piece-people, including live horses for the knights were everyone’s favorite. Sam and Bill were very cute as with bent heads, they discussed each move as it was made. Although, they both said it wasn’t a very good game of chess and could see the mistakes that Black was making right from the start (White wins and apparently this is a good thing, because he is the guy that Lionora is secretly in love with, according to the story.) Also, the pageant itself was beautiful, although the kids were very tired when the flag twirlers came out (for the 10th time) at about 11:30 pm and since we were right in the middle of an aisle, there was just no way for us to gracefully exit – so we stayed.

Terri & David are here visiting from Seattle, so they came along with us and it was really a great fun experience of Italian culture and tradition. I’m not sure how long they have been performing this current version of the pageant. If you want to read more or see pictures, check out http://www.marosticascacchi.it/ Most of our local acquaintances have either seen it and or say something like, “I’ve always wanted to go to that. How is it?” We all loved it and have Sam to thank for his interest in chess in leading us to this grand adventure.