Gorgeous handcrafted & rare Tarot collectables created & published by
Osvaldo Menegazzi of il Meneghello

In the charming Renaissance village of Fererra we'll spend the night in order to pack in a full day of exploring this charming town full of character and intrigue. Highlights include Palazzo Schifanoia; a 14th century Palace, boasting frescos by early Renaissance painter Francesco del Cossa, that depict astrological paintings having a correlation to Tarot symbology. We will view the Massari Palace with its impressive Boldini exhibition as well as a lovely Romanesque Cathedral with Baroque style interiors. A leisurely walk around a cobblestoned Jewish village is bound to inspire with its delicate beauty and unique architecture.

We will spend three exciting days within the city walls of historically rich and vibrant Bologna and take day tours with Morena Poltronieri. She will reveal early symbology inherent in Tarot found in the magnificent Saint Petroni Cathedral, as well as the church of Saint James and we will discover an ancient Temple of Isis with ties to Jerusalem. We will have time to visit wonderful museums, an elaborate open air market and to sample the local cuisine on our own as well.

Then we will take a short bus ride to Riola, where we will spend a day at the amazing 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 beautifully 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 will throw a special garden party for us with their artist friends.

(Pictured right: Ernesto Fazioli & Morena Poltronieri; co-founders of Museo dei Tarocchi)

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 a week in lovely suites while we travel the Tuscany countryside! The castle's personal chef Alexander will grill a special barbeque for us and treat us to lovely buffet style breakfast each morning.

We will visit Florence with time to explore its great and gentle beauty and wonder at its incredible Duomo. You will be free to take in the Galleria del Accademia (home of Michelangelo's David) or other equally intriguing landmarks.

We'll also spend an afternoon in the quaint, tiny Renaissance town of Pienza with street signs like titles of Tarot Trumps and an unusual Cathedral boasting an underground labyrinth, as well as enticing shops with flavorful cheeses, sausage and sundries.

We will explore the marvelous Medieval city of Siena which offers much to tantalize the palette and inspire the artist within; with its stunning B&W marbled Duomo di Siena, designed to fill the visitor with overwhelming awe. And see mosaics and frescoes with pre-Christian, Pagan imagery and symbology also found in ancient Tarot decks. 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.

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 are not allowed to touch or even take photos, the Tarot garden invites us to interact with her compelling art.

The tour will end where it began, in Milan where we will savor a last supper while dining with dear Osvaldo Menegazzi and friends. And having come full circle, we can bask in the collective experience of a lifetime! Our Italian artist friends await to make this tour very special and memorable. Please book early as space is limited and time is running out to sign up for this extraordinary adventure. It's priced as low as possible so more folks can join us on this incredible adventure. For more info contact: Arnell Ando