Marostica

Another charming town on the edge of the Veneto plain, but with its city walls extending up into the hills behind the piazza. Its main claim to fame, is the live chess game which is played annually in the main square, allegedly (according to the notoriously unreliable guide books) originating in some romantic nonsense about a proxy for a duel to win the hand of a fair maiden...or not. Rather more prosaically, Marostica was once a major centre of straw hat making...some reputation to live up to! Regardless, it is a pleasant, if unexceptional town with a beautiful square complete with essential bars, restaurants, cafes and, on my visit, ice cream parlours inundated with coach loads of Italy's geriatrica.