International Chess Museum "Giovanni Longo" opens in Marostica

Starting Saturday 16 May 2026, the Castello Inferiore in Marostica becomes home to the International Chess Museum named after Giovanni Longo, the collector who promoted the initiative. This is the first museum in Italy entirely devoted to chess, designed for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

The displays bring together Longo's private collection and contributions from other collectors, presenting objects that trace the cultural and artistic history of chess worldwide.

• Exhibition layout: four themed rooms representing Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.
• Highlights: historic boards, large-scale works (up to 3×3 m), chess clocks, items signed by world champions and handcrafted pieces made from recycled materials in wartime contexts.
• Accessibility features: free audio guides in Italian and English accessible via smartphone and QR codes, tactile maps, lighting control systems for visually impaired visitors and videos interpreted in Italian Sign Language.
• Funding: total investment of €668,000, financed for over €405,000 with PNRR funds and the remainder by the Municipality of Marostica.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday 16 May at 16:30. The inauguration day includes activities to promote chess culture among young people:

• the "Giovani Talenti a Marostica" competition by the Civic Library for participants aged 14–20 on the theme "Marostica, city of chess";
• from 16:00 to 18:30 at the Casa del Caffè in Piazza Castello the 7th Chess Event with FIDE master Carlo Micheli, organized by the "Città di Marostica" Chess Club.

The museum will be open year-round (closed on 25 December and 1 January) with visiting hours 9:00–13:00 and 14:30–18:30. The exhibition venue is the Castello Inferiore of Marostica.