According to the legend, in 1454 Rinaldo da Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara played in Marostica a game of live chess on a huge chessboard specially painted in Piazza Castello, battling for the hand of Lionora, the daughter of the lord of the castle, Taddeo Parisio.

Since 1954 this fantastic challenge has been revived every two years and becomes a real town party with lots of displays of traditional costumes of the fifteenth century. In addition to the now famous chessboard, the whole medieval complex, one of the most important ones in the Veneto, also makes wonderful impression.

The game of chess with living characters is played on the Piazza di Marostica every second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of September in even years.