Bevilacqua Fabrics: Protagonists of the Marostica Human Chess Game

The Marostica Chess Game with living characters is one of the most famous and fascinating historical events in Italy. Every two years, the town of Marostica, in the heart of the Veneto region, is transformed into an open-air theater where a medieval legend comes to life on the chessboard in the Chess Square, where history, love, and spectacle meet. This year, the event celebrated its 101-year history in style, thanks in part to the use of fine fabrics from our Tessitura collection. Let’s discover it together.

A Story of Love and Chess

For those unfamiliar with the Marostica Human Chess Game, the event has its roots in a legend dating back to the 15th century. The story tells of two knights, Rinaldo d’Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, who are both in love with the same lady, the beautiful Lionora. To avoid a bloody duel, the lord of the castle decides that the two contenders will compete in a game of chess. The winner will have Lionora’s hand, but both knights will be honored by the noble gesture, thus avoiding the clash.

The uniqueness of the show lies in the fact that the chess pieces are not inanimate figures, but living characters that come to life thanks to more than 700 citizens who participate as figurants. Ladies, knights, ambassadors and jesters animate the chessboard in an elaborate choreography of colors, sounds and movements, faithfully set in 1454. The modern version of the game is the work of Mario Mirko Vucetich, whose libretto reinvented the event in 1953, giving it a scenic and theatrical aura that has made it world famous.

The 2024 edition, held from September 6th to 8th, saw a new direction by Maurizio Panici and the participation of choreographer Massimiliano Volpini, who made the show even more exciting and dynamic. With around 14,000 tickets sold, 30% of which went to foreign audiences, the show is a plunge into the past, enriched by modern technologies and innovative stage designs.

However, the heart of the Marostica Human Chess Game remains its deep link with tradition, embodied in the heritage of rich costumes made of fabrics that evoke bygone eras.

Bevilacqua Fabrics: A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship

The stars of the show are the wonderful costumes, rich in detail and faithful to the period, which bring the atmosphere of the 15th century back to life. For the Chess Game, our Tessitura provided three iconic velvets that were used to create the most sumptuous gowns.

• Da Vinci velvet, in a sophisticated shade of green, with intricate patterns inspired by the Vinci knots, the famous designs of Renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci, a symbol of balance and geometric perfection.
• Rinascimento velvet: a precious fabric in delicate shades of antique pink and jade. It is characterized by an elegant weave of stems forming ogives, embellished with stylized flowers typical of Renaissance motifs such as the carnation, lotus and thistle, illuminated by metallic threads.
• Caccia velvet, in a deep garnet color, reproduces the decorations of 14th-century Italian lampas, interweaving Christian symbolism and oriental botanical motifs to create a rich and sumptuous design.

These fabrics not only embellish the costumes of the event, but also tell a story of their own: their quality and beauty are the result of ancient knowledge handed down from generation to generation, which still fascinates with its refinement. Each dress becomes a work of art, a symbol of how the past can coexist with the present, through materials and craftsmanship that are the legacy of ancient times.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Associazione Pro Marostica / Photopiù