Marostica: Castles, Living Chess and Cherry Culture

Marostica combines impressive fortresses, living traditions and paths through a landscape shaped by cherry trees. If you would like to combine culture, nature and regional specialities on an individual trip to Italy, you will find various starting points here for planning your days.

Living Chess and Historic Settings

The living chess game takes place every two years in September in Piazza Castello. Around 600 performers take part in medieval costumes. The historical re-enactment was proposed and organised in 1923 by university students Mirko Vucetich and Francesco Pozza.

Castello Inferiore is a square, battlemented fortress with a high keep and two drawbridges. Visitors can currently see twelve frescoed and partially furnished halls, six cells in the tower and the rampart walk. Castello Inferiore is open daily for visits, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Castello Superiore stands on Colle Pausolino and dominates the walled town of Marostica. Its courtyard is currently closed and is opened only by prior arrangement on special occasions such as exhibitions or events. In the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta, a Baroque façade and three bronze doors with panels depicting scenes recall episodes from the Bible and the life of Christ. The church is considered the oldest evidence of the Christian faith in Marostica and probably dates from the early Middle Ages. Crosara, a hilly district of Marostica, is also home to the Ecomuseo della Paglia, which belongs to the Alto Vicentino museum network.

Wetland and Scenic Paths

Gorghi Scuri is a wetland with pools and small waterfalls along the Valletta stream. The waters serve as breeding grounds for salamanders and provide migratory birds with a resting place during their long journeys.

The Cammino di Ronda begins at the Torre della Compagnia delle Mura. There, qualified staff sell admission tickets and fit visitors with safety harnesses before they walk the panoramic path independently. The eastern side of the path along Marostica's city walls has been accessible since 2014; this section is 8 to 12 metres above the ground 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 district of Roveredo Alto and passes through the district of San Luca. Along the way, it runs through a landscape shaped by cherry trees and offers views of the hills and the Marostica plain.

Cherry Culture in Piazza Castello

The annual Cherry Festival takes place on the last Sunday in May in Piazza Castello. It offers the opportunity to taste and buy cherries from Marostica, and also includes a market, tastings and entertainment. The Ciliegia di Marostica received European recognition as an IGP product in 2001.

Planning Your Trip to Marostica

When planning your trip, you can decide what to focus on during your days: castles and churches, living chess, nature observation, hiking trails or regional cherry culture. When choosing your hotel, you can align your accommodation decision with your personal interests and your preferred travel pace.

Discover More Places

Primolano, Trissino, Marano Vicentino, Campese, Villaga, San Benedetto, Radi, Montecchio Precalcino

For the overview of the wider travel area: Vicenza.