Museo dei Tarocchi
AA108
The Museo dei Tarocchi, also known as the International Tarot Museum, is a unique place in Italy, located on a medieval transit route between Pistoia and Bologna, in the small village of Riola. Established in the summer of 2007, the museum has become an important cultural center for Tarot enthusiasts worldwide.
The museum is housed in an impressive historical stone building from the 16th century in the Bolognese Apennines, which has been restored to become the world’s first museum dedicated to Tarot as an art form. It contains original artworks by many famous artists who have addressed the Tarot theme, as well as a collection of Tarot decks from all over the world, from 17th-century India to African wood, encompassing both historical and modern decks.
The museum regularly organizes cultural events, Tarot festivals, exhibitions, and guided tours, creating an attractive and emotionally stimulating symbolic forest with its unique atmosphere. The museum is not only a place to display artworks but also preserves ancient books and publications from the Mutus Liber publishing house, offering a rich catalog of thematic books and Tarot decks by artists in limited editions with the artists’ original signatures, often enhanced by handcrafted interventions.
Regarding the history of Tarot, it is believed to have originated in China, where playing cards may have been invented. The cards with images corresponding to coins were inspired by the local ancient monetary system. Chinese card decks may have transformed into the popular playing cards in the West: Ropes similar to sticks later became Swords and Wands; Circles or Balls represented Gold; while Tens of thousands became Cups, possibly due to a misunderstanding of the corresponding ideograms.
Additionally, some traditions suggest a connection between Tarot cards and the nomadic world. In trying to explain the origin of the word “Tarocco,” some sources may relate to ancient Indian decks, as well as the appearance of Ganjifa decks with twelve themes, including non-figurative cards (from 1 to 10) and two images: a minister (or advisor) and a king.
The International Tarot Museum is not just a place to admire and learn about the history and art of Tarot but also a cultural exchange space where people can explore and connect with the deep symbols and meanings that Tarot offers.
more info:
https://www.arnellart.com/museodeitarocchi/msdk52.htm