The Giovanni Longo International Chess Museum – City of Marostica officially opened its doors on May 16 in Marostica, in the province of Vicenza, Veneto. The museum is located in the 14th-century Lower Castle, overlooking the city’s famous Chess Square, internationally renowned for the “Living Chess Game” staged every two years in autumn. It is the first museum of its kind in Italy and one of the very few dedicated chess museums in Europe.
The museum was established thanks to a donation by Giovanni Longo, a distinguished collector who wished to make the objects he gathered over the years accessible to the public. The exhibition features around 150 items, including 90 chess sets and boards, displayed in a modern exhibition space designed to be fully accessible to visually impaired and hearing-impaired visitors, with a free app serving as an audio guide.
The collection is extended across four rooms dedicated to four continents – Europe, America, Asia, and Africa – and includes both antique and contemporary works of exceptional beauty and value. Among the highlights are giant chess sets created by the Milanese artist Enrico Baj, a chess set designed by Max Ernst, and many other remarkable masterpieces.
Speakers at the inauguration included the Mayor of Marostica, Matteo Mozzo; Mara Bizzotto, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy; Marco Zecchinato, Regional Councillor for Interregional Cooperation; and Luigi Maggi, President of the Italian Chess Federation (FSI). The guest of honor was Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of the European Chess Union, who congratulated both the city and the Italian chess community on this extraordinary achievement.
“The works come from all over the world,” explained donor Giovanni Longo, “and trace a journey through the centuries, from the 18th century to the present day, beginning with Chinese and Indian craftsmanship and arriving at contemporary interpretations of the game of chess. The exhibition includes chessboards and sets of every size, from miniature artifacts to monumental works measuring three by three meters, as well as sculptures, unique pieces, chess clocks, symbolic objects, and various curiosities.”
“In this period of rapid growth for Italian chess,” added Maggi, “with the Federation reaching record numbers of members and affiliated clubs, we warmly welcome the opening of this Museum. It connects the present of this wonderful sport with its glorious past and gives Italy an exhibition space that highlights the inseparable bond between chess, art, and culture.”