Museo Internazionale degli Scacchi "Giovanni Longo"

The International Chess Museum “Giovanni Longo” opened inside Marostica’s Castello Inferiore on 16 May 2026. It presents the collection of Giovanni Longo, who began collecting in 1972 with a chess set given to him by his father and eventually assembled more than two hundred sets, along with clocks, paintings and philatelic material.

Why it matters

Marostica’s public identity is closely linked with chess, and the museum gives the game a permanent place within the town’s historic castle. Its collection ranges across different periods and regions, presenting chess sets as objects of material culture as well as pieces of play.

What to notice

The collection includes chess sets from around the world, tournament clocks, paintings and objects connected with the game. The museum is located within the Castello Inferiore, whose historic rooms and architecture form part of its setting.

Context and history

Giovanni Longo began collecting in 1972. In 2022 he offered to donate part of his collection on the condition that the town create a permanent public museum. Marostica chose the Castello Inferiore as its home, and the museum project received support from Italy’s Ministry of Culture through the PNRR programme. The museum opened in May 2026.