The Tarot and Hermeticism Tour of Italy 2008
October 12 - 25 2008, with Robert M. Place and Ernesto Frazioli
The Cathedral in Ferrara
In the 18th and 19th centuries several imaginative occultists fantasized that the Tarot originated in ancient Egypt and this has been part of Tarot lore ever since. The Tarot, however, actually emergenced in Northern Italy in the 15th century when a mystical fifth suite with a parade of enigmatic figures was added to a previously existing deck. As a creation of Renaissance Italy, parallels for all of the Tarot's icons can be found in the art of that era. On this tour, we will go to the cities in Northern Italy that have the earliest history of involvement with the Tarot, visit historic and artistic sites, and find comparisons for the tarot trumps in the mystical symbols found in the paintings and sculptures of the 15th century. With this experience, the Neoplatonic mystical nature of the Tarot's allegory will become evident and we will be able to glimpse the Tarot as its creators might have envisioned it.
19th century alchemist's Castle in Riola
This is a tour of historic and artistic sites in Northern Italy that relate to the Tarot, magic, mysticism, and Hermeticism. The Tour will be for two weeks in mid October 2008, tentativly from October 12 - 25. It will include a lecture by Robert M. Place on the history of the Tarot and the Tarot's relationship to Renaissance art. We will visit the Tarot Museum (Museo dei Tarocchi, in Italian), in Riola, and see the famous Tarot related frescos with some of the earliest depictions of virtues and vices by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel, in Padova. We will also visit sites in Bologna, Rimini, Modena, Ferrara, Venice, Mantova, and Milano. These are the cities where the Tarot was first created and used in the 1400s.
Ernesto in front of the Cathedral of Ferrara
Our tour guide will be Ernesto Frazioli, curator of the Museo dei Tarocchi and an expert on Italian history and art. The tour will be in English but anyone from any country is invited. To learn more about Ernesto and the Museo dei Tarocchi Here is the Museum's website:
Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
The tour will begin in Bologna and each participant will be responsible for their flight. Once you arrive Ernesto will take over. The price will be posted as this information becomes available. Meanwhile, if you would like to be on the list of those who are interested, please email Robert M. Place at:
For more information contact: Robert M. Place at: (845)246-0180 or robroseplac@aol.com
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