Guided tours of Marostica

Looking for a Tour Guide of Marostica?

A guided tour to the charming Marostica, one of the most beautiful walled cities of the Veneto region, Italy. It lies on the hills at the foot of the Asiago plateau, not far from Vicenza. It is a medieval jewel between two castles connected by well-preserved 15-century walls with 24 little towers.

In front of the Castello Inferiore (Lower Castle) you can admire the famous Piazza degli Scacchi (Chess Square). Every two years, on the second weekend of September, the very popular and spectacular Chess Game with living pieces takes place. You have to book really in advance if you want to experience it!

The Chess Game

It is an event that involves more than 550 local people with period costumes and welcomes about 3600 spectators. It recalls a legend dating back to 1454, when Marostica was part of the Venetian Republic.

Two brave warriors, Rinaldo d’Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, were both very much in love with Lionora, the governor’s daughter. To conquer their beloved they decided to fight a duel. But the governor, Taddeo Parisio, prohibited that and invited them to play a chess game. The winner would have the opportunity to marry the beautiful Lionora. The winner was luckily Vieri da Vallorara, the one Lionora was secretly in love with.

Prospero Alpini, coffee and dwarf crocodile

Marostica has several curiosities connected with Prospero Alpini, doctor and botanist of the Venetian Republic and born at Marostica. First, he discovered the coffee plant in the 16th century. When he was in Egypt as the personal doctor of the Venetian noble Giorgio Emo, he could study this plant, unknown in Venice.

He also understood how local people enjoyed a very good, dark drink coming from this special plant. And thanks to him, coffee was soon after introduced in Venice… and now it is definitely part of our Italian culture!

When Prospero Alpini came back to the Venetian Republic, he served as the prefect in charge of the Botanical Garden in Padua, now Unesco site, and was chosen as professor of botany at the University of the city. Tradition says he also came back from Egypt with a dwarf crocodile that was able to live in the moat surrounding the Castle’s walls of Marostica. Now, you can have a look at it, embalmed, at the Pharmacy Riello in the town centre.

Typical products of Marostica

The typical product of Marostica is the cherry! Indeed, a very nice period to visit Marostica can be late spring, when cherry trees are in bloom. Under the porticoes of Piazza Castello, in the city centre, you can find a little shop where to buy cherries in different versions… liquors, jams and biscuits! If you like coffee, you have to know that Torrefazione Marosticana Caffè produces a specific 100% Arabica coffee blend in honor to Prospero Alpini.

Finally, why do not you discover the wines produced in the area? Try Breganze Doc, Vespaiolo and Torcolato… they are the main wines of the Vicenza area.

Contact me for a guided tour of Marostica!