Marostica Culture

The Partita a Scacchi is the town's calling card. Held on the second weekend of September in even-numbered years, it puts several hundred costumed participants -- pieces, heralds, dancers, cavalry -- onto the paved chessboard in the main square, playing out a scripted game by torchlight. It is elaborate, entirely amateur, and organised by the town itself.

Whether the 1454 legend behind it is true matters less than it might. The event has been running since 1954, which makes it older than most people watching, and the costumes and armour are made and maintained locally.

The cherry is the other half. Ciliegia di Marostica IGP, protected since 2002, is grown on the surrounding slopes and sold from roadside stalls and markets from late May. It appears in everything locally through June -- desserts, preserves, spirits.

Food otherwise is Vicentino hill cooking: bigoli, game, asparagus in spring, and the torresani (young pigeon) of the nearby Breganze hills.