In cosmopolitan
Milan, we'll visit the awe inspiring Renaissance fortress of the
Castello Sforzesco,
where the ancient
Visconti Tarot
cards were found in an abandoned well. We’ll bask in the beauty of
frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci and by Bonifacio Bembo, the creator of the earliest known Tarot deck.
We'll visit living Italian artists, publishers and scholars who are among the most prolific in the
field. We'll enjoy inspirational art showing how the richness of this culture fostered the Tarot.
We’ll spend time with internationally renowned Tarot artist
and publisher,
Osvaldo Menegazzi
and be mesmerized in his shop
Il Meneghello.
And later dine with Osvaldo at
il Rifugio del Ghiottone
, one of Milan’s finer eateries. And we’ll revel in the beauty
of Milan itself, with its incredible
Gothic Cathedral
the famous piazza, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, (world’s oldest
Mall) and a metaphysical shop sure to delight with hard to find Tarot. We will visit the incredible
Cimitero
Monumentale,
so moving and unforgettable…entering through a massive
Neo-Medieval style building of marble and stone. This gigantic cemetery has rows
upon rows of breathtaking sculptures from classical to contemporary, Greek
temples, and other elaborate monuments dedicated to the long departed and
beloved.
In
idyllic
Fererra
we'll soak in the warm ambiance of a Renaissance village. Highlights to include a 14th century Palace,
boasting frescos by early Renaissance painter Cossa, which depict astrological paintings which have
correlation to Tarot symbology, a majestic castle - art museum, and a Romanesque Cathedral with
Baroque style interiors.
We will stay in historically rich
Bologna
and get a private tour with the director of
Museo dei Tarocchi,
Morena Poltronieri. She will reveal early symbology inherent in Tarot found in the magnificent
Cathedral, St. Petroni
, and St. James church and wonderful museums waiting to be explored. Onward to
Riola,
where we will
spend a day at the incredible
Tarot Museum
nestled in a small hilltop village, surrounded by majestic forests
and mountains. An impressive array of original Tarot artworks from around the world, as well as a
remarkable collection of decks from the rare to the unusual and most popular awaits us. The 400 year old building of the
Tarot museum so lovingly restored, has many hidden treasures including tree trunks that open to reveal shelves
of prized Tarocchi and tiny doors with lit windows hidden in stone walls that open to show off precious miniature
artworks. The Museo folks plan to throw a special
garden party
for us with their artist friends!
Next we will travel to the enchanting
Tuscany
region, with its tidy lines of cypress trees, endless olive groves,
and lazy sunflowers…like gazing into an immense painting. Medieval castles and villages dot the landscape adding
to this picturesque scene. We will
stay in a fabulous ancient castle
of our own for days while we
travel the Tuscany countryside!
We will visit
Florence
with time to explore its great and gentle beauty. And the charming Renaissance town of
Pienza
with street signs like titles of Tarot Trumps and enticing shops and beautiful Cathedral. We will
stay for a spell in the marvelous medieval city of
Siena
which offers much to tantalize the palette and inspire the artist within; with stunning B&W marbled
Duomo di Siena, designed to fill the visitor with overwhelming awe. Mosaics and frescoes with
pre-Christian, Pagan imagery and symbology also found in ancient Tarot decks. And fabulous museums
await with some of the greatest masterpieces of all time. Cobblestone paths spiral out from the
Campo de Piazza
offering wonderful eateries and unusual shops. Precious Tarot decks can be discovered in
fine Tobacco shops just a short stroll away.
At the heart of our tour we will make a spiritual pilgrimage to the
Tarot Garden
of
Niki De Saint Phalle.
A breathtaking view of colorful sculptures loom large on the horizon as we draw near… Niki created
this amazing magical place where all twenty two trumps welcome us to explore and play in sight of the
Mediterranean sea, surrounded by a rocky landscape graced with olive and oak trees. Unlike most
museums where you’re not allowed to touch or even take photos, the Tarot garden invites us to interact
with the art.
The tour ends where it began in
Milan
and having come full circle, we can bask in the
collective experience of a lifetime!
This trip coincides with the
Association for Tarot Studies
(ATS )
Symposium set for September 23rd – 25th in
Saint Suzanne, France.
The ATS site has details of their
Tarot Symposium.
Arnell and Michael have gone on both memorable Tarot art history tours with
Brian Williams
in 1999 and 2000 and
have since returned frequently to become more deeply enamored with this magical place and visit dear Tarot friends
who offer to make this tour a very special one indeed.
Tarot Art & History Tour ~ September 26th – October 7th 2011
Honoring the legacy of Tarot artist and scholar Brian Williams, who first enchanted us with Italy's
deep connection to Tarot, Arnell Ando, (of Transformational Tarot) and Michael McAteer and most
prestigiously, our fabulous friends of
Museo dei Tarocchi
(licensed tour guides of Hermatena) will lead a merry band of travelers in autumn of 2011 to the
magical birthplace of Tarot in northern Italy. A few Tarot luminaries attending, are
Mary K. Greer
,
Ellen Lorenzi-Prince
,
Michele Jackson
,
Teresa Michelsen
,
Fern Mercer
and
Lyn Olds
among others, as well as many cherished Tarot friends in the Tarot community.
