The first image that comes to mind when we think of tarot is almost always the same: enigmatic symbols and readings tied to destiny. And yet, what few people know is that (at least in the beginning) these fascinating cards had nothing to do with divination.
And not only that: we are used to associating tarot with the famous French decks, such as the Tarot of Marseille, but their origins are also (and above all) Italian. Tarot cards were born in Italy, in the heart of the Renaissance, among the refined courts of Milan, Ferrara, and Bologna. They were not esoteric tools, but precious hand-painted objects created for noble families, designed for play and display, rather than interpretation.
