Antique hunting in the chess square near Vicenza

About

Since 1988, the Mercatino dell’Antiquariato, Collezionismo e Vintage, the Antiques, Collectables and Vintage Market, has spread from Piazza Castello into the streets of the historic centre. It starts in the morning and continues through the afternoon, with stalls framed by the crenellated walls and the Lower Castle at one end of the square.

THE MARKET

Marostica is better known for the human chess game staged between its two medieval castles. Come on the first Sunday of the month and the same square has a different cast.

→ Old maps and books no longer in print
Booksellers and collectors have a place in Marostica’s market alongside the furniture trade. The municipal description specifically includes books no longer in print, atlases, maps, postcards, stamps and coins. Libri fuori edizione, books no longer being published, is a useful phrase when asking about older titles. For an atlas, check that its maps and illustrated plates are complete; for a print, establish whether it is an original impression or a later reproduction before agreeing a price.

→ A porcelain chess set from 1923, inside the castle
Collectors have another address immediately beside the market. The Museo Internazionale degli Scacchi Giovanni Longo opened inside the Lower Castle on 16 May 2026. Its displays include chessboards, pieces, clocks and graphic works from around the world, including a porcelain chess set made in Leningrad in 1923 and works associated with artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Giò Pomodoro. The museum has a separate admission ticket, and an audio guide is available in English and Italian.

→ Antique furniture, vintage fashion and twentieth century design
The organiser advertises over 90 exhibitors, with antique furniture, twentieth century furnishings, collectibles, vinyl and vintage accessories among the principal attractions. Furniture buyers should distinguish period pieces from later reproductions, both of which appear in the categories described by the municipality. Ask the dealer to identify the material, approximate date and any restoration, particularly when a purchase is intended for an interior back home.

→ First Sunday in Marostica, second Sunday in Vicenza
For an antiques itinerary through northern Italy, the two markets provide different appointments within the province of Vicenza. Marostica holds its regular market on the first Sunday, while Non ho l’Età occupies Vicenza’s historic centre on the second. A longer stay can accommodate both, with a week between them. In Vicenza, the market includes professional furniture and design dealers around Piazza dei Signori and silver, books and collectibles in Piazzetta Palladio.

→Which antique markets near Vicenza are worth planning a trip around?
Marostica’s monthly market is an option for antiques, vintage furnishings and collectible paper in a medieval town. Vicenza’s Non ho l’Età market provides a separate shopping day among the city’s Palladian squares. Their regular dates fall on the first and second Sundays respectively, with an August break.

→Why consider Marostica when researching antique markets in Italy and Europe?
Marostica suits a collecting itinerary that also allows time for historic architecture and museums. The market occupies the chessboard square beside the Lower Castle, whose International Chess Museum provides a particularly relevant visit for anyone interested in decorative objects, craftsmanship and collections.

→Can I arrange international delivery for furniture or fragile purchases?
Ask the individual dealer about packing, insurance and delivery before paying. Request a written quotation and an itemised receipt, and agree on collection arrangements for anything too large to take away yourself.