Tarocco Bolognese

What it is

The Tarocco Bolognese is a specialized 62-card deck developed in Bologna, Italy. It serves as the foundation for the traditional card game known as tarocchini. The deck is an expansion of earlier Italian playing card sets, featuring four standard suits and a distinct set of trump cards called trionfi. Unlike modern tarot decks used solely for divination, this pack is designed primarily for gameplay, though it also holds a significant place in the history of fortune-telling using cards.

Where it comes from

The earliest records of tarocchi in Bologna date to 1442, when a merchant sold two decks of trionfi in Ferrara. By 1459, trionfi were mentioned within Bologna itself. Local tradition attributes the invention to Prince Francesco Antelminelli Castracani Fibbia, though this claim dates only to the 17th century. The oldest surviving uncut sheets are held in the Louvre and the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, dating to the late 15th or early 16th century. The deck evolved by adding queens, the Fool, and 21 trumps to existing Bolognese designs.

How it is done

Players use the 62-card deck to play tarocchini, a trick-taking game. The deck diverged from regular playing cards in the 16th century by removing certain ranks to simplify play. In the long suits of swords and batons, the King is highest and the Ace is lowest. In the round suits of cups and coins, the Ace ranks higher than the numbered cards 6 through 10. Trump cards have their own hierarchy, with the Angel outranking the World. Modifications in 1725 replaced imperial and papal trumps with moors, and later additions included Arabic numerals on some trumps.

Tools and materials

The deck consists of 62 cards divided into four suits: swords, batons, cups, and coins. It includes 21 trump cards, known as trionfi, along with face cards such as Kings, Queens, Knights, and Knaves. The Fool is also included. Some cards feature reversible faces, and specific trumps bear Arabic numerals. No cards are explicitly labelled with names, relying instead on imagery and numerical order for identification during play.

What it is for

The primary purpose of the Tarocco Bolognese is entertainment through the card game tarocchini. Historically, it was also the first tarot deck used for cartomancy, predating other famous systems by thirty years.

Who does it

The deck is played by enthusiasts in Bologna and surrounding regions like Piedmont. Cartomancers in Bologna historically used the standard playing deck rather than specialized occult versions. Players treat the trump cards according to established hierarchies, such as ranking the Angel above the World. The game has been confined largely to Bologna historically, though influences spread to France and Belgium. Modern tournaments are organized by the Accademia del Tarocchino Bolognese.

Peoples and places

The Tarocco Bolognese is central to the cultural heritage of Bologna, Italy. Its influence extended to Piedmont, where regional games sometimes mirror its trump rankings. Decks in France and Belgium show traces of its design. The game remains a living tradition in Italy, preserved through academic and social clubs.

What people believe

Practitioners view the cards as tools for gaming and fortune-telling without claiming divine inspiration or ancient Egyptian roots. The hierarchy of cards follows logical rules of rank and suit rather than esoteric correspondences. The removal of certain ranks and the addition of trumps were practical changes to facilitate gameplay rather than symbolic adjustments for ritual purposes.

When it is done

The deck is used year-round for both recreational gaming and cartomancy. There are no specific festivals or calendar days tied exclusively to its use. Tournaments and casual games occur regularly among enthusiasts in Bologna and Piedmont. The practice is sustained through community organizations rather than seasonal rituals or religious observances.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Historians trace the deck's development from the 15th-century trionfi decks. Scholars note its role as the earliest tarot deck used in cartomancy, influencing later systems like those of Etteilla. The connection between Bolognese cartomancy and French practices suggests possible transmission routes. Researchers examine the physical evolution of the cards, including the 1725 modification of trumps and the addition of numerals. The deck's survival is attributed to its dual function as both a game and a divinatory tool.

Compare and confuse

The Tarocco Bolognese is often compared to the Tarocco Siciliano and the obsolete Minchiate deck, which it influenced. It differs from modern Rider-Waite-Smith tarot in its structure and lack of explicit labels. While many tarot decks are used for meditation or spiritual guidance, the Bolognese version remains rooted in gameplay. Its cartomantic tradition is distinct from French systems, which often claimed exotic origins for their cards.

Law and persecution

There are no known legal restrictions on the use of the Tarocco Bolognese. The deck is freely produced and sold for gaming and collection. Cultural preservation efforts by groups like the Accademia del Tarocchino Bolognese help maintain its status as a protected intangible heritage item in Italy. No persecution or suppression of the practice has been documented.

Questions people ask about Tarocco Bolognese

Good reading and sources

• Tarocco Bolognese on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data