An Unexpected Market in a Medieval Square

Discovering Marostica: a castle, a chessboard, and a surprise market

I spent almost all of May in Italy, and recently I’ve been travelling a lot between Hungary and Italy. I’m working online, and I'm looking for a job after I finish my PhD, which is why I can spend some time at home. Last month, I showed my friends some places near my hometown, and since you told me you'd like to know more about them, I took my camera and documented the locations for you.

In May, Fernanda and I got married in Vicenza, and a few days before, I showed my hometown and some cities around to our witnesses coming from abroad. On a Sunday, I decided to bring my friends to one of my favourite cities in the area, Bassano del Grappa, but on the way, I realised that it would have been nice to stop in Marostica, and it was an unexpected discovery.

Nestled at the foot of the Asiago Plateau in the Veneto region, Marostica is one of Italy’s most enchanting medieval towns. Famous for its life-sized chess game played every two years in the main square, Marostica combines history, tradition, and natural beauty in a truly unique way.

The town is surrounded by ancient city walls that climb the hill to the Upper Castle (Castello Superiore), while the Lower Castle (Castello Inferiore) guards the entrance to the historic centre. Between them lies the beautiful Piazza degli Scacchi, where every even-numbered September, costumed actors reenact a legendary chess match played for the hand of a noblewoman in 1454.

Marostica is also renowned for its cherries, the local ciliegie di Marostica IGP are a springtime delicacy, celebrated with a festival every May. The gentle hills and terraced landscapes make it a great place for scenic walks and bike rides, also full of local trattorias.

When I decided to stop, I didn’t know that it was a particular day; on the first Sunday of every month, there is a vibrant Antiques and Collectables Market (Mercatino dell’Antiquariato e del Collezionismo).

Since 1988, this market has been a staple event in Marostica, drawing collectors, vintage lovers, and curious travellers to the historic Piazza degli Scacchi and surrounding streets. From 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, approximately 130 exhibitors showcase a diverse array of items. The market features antique furniture and home décor, vintage clothing and accessories, as well as ceramics, lace, and colourful glassware. You can also find rare books, vinyl records, postcards, and a variety of collectables such as stamps, coins, and military memorabilia.

The market was a unique opportunity to explore Marostica's medieval charm while browsing through historical artefacts and collectables.

We only spent a couple of hours in Marostica, but it turned out to be a special visit. I really enjoyed showing the city to my friends in this particular context. Marostica already has a lot of character, but with the stalls lining the square and the streets filled with vintage treasures, it felt especially alive.

Even with just a short visit, it was easy to get drawn into the details of each stall. The mix of history, unexpected discoveries, and that beautiful setting made it one of those happy travel accidents that you remember.

After this, we went back on the road to Bassano, but I will talk about this next week, don’t miss it!

See you soon,

Flavio