Lucca Comics & Games 2025

We were teaching Minchiate in Lucca!

On 31 October, 1 and 2 November we had our stand Playing with History: Research and recovery of the Tarocchi Minchiate del Cinquecento inside the Library of the Scuola Alti Studi di Lucca. In the Demo Area of the Festival. They were intense days, in which we didn't stop playing! I took the opportunity to dress up as a Renaissance lady, which was a wish I had had for a long time and which I was able to make come true thanks to PROLOCO of Bomarzo, who lent me the costumes.

In the library there were many tables with different games to try, and they were all full of curious people eager to learn, it was so rewarding! I had a lot of fun because "Minchiate" in Italian means "Stupidities" or "Nonsense" so it was very funny to see the faces of the people when they came across our corner, they all said to me "but do you know what minchiate means?" and they laughed. Besides, there are still many people who don't know that tarot is a game, and that it is a fantastic pastime with which we can have fun with our friends (as well as being an oracle). Then I explained to them that it is different from other tarots because it has 97 cards, and that it is even older than the Tarot of Marseilles. They were also very surprised to discover that it is of Tuscan origin, and to learn that there are decks from the 18th century made in Lucca. While we were playing, I was telling them these and other curious things, as well as explaining the rules.

Besides playing non-stop for hours and hours with all the people sitting at our table, I brought my collection of Minchiate decks with me. So I was able to show the most curious people different cards, reproductions of old decks and also some modern ones. Of course most of them especially enjoyed being able to see the original 18th century Al Leone di Girolamo deck from my collection up close, as these objects in museums are behind glass.

In addition to teaching how to play and showing the decks in the collection, we had activities for the younger children: stamping and painting a card from the Minchiate deck. This allowed the older children to play while the younger ones had fun painting. Of course, it wasn't just for girls, it was also an activity for adults who wanted to relax in the midst of the madness of the festival, because it has to be said, it really is madness! Without going any further, I met Dante Alighieri himself who signed my autograph. Thousands of people in every corner of the city and in many parallel events, I really didn't realise the size and importance of this festival.

I have to thank Michal Lynn Shumate, PhD student in Art History at the Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca, who managed this activity, because without her generous help, creativity and enthusiasm, it would have been really impossible to be part of this event. Love to all! (and if you can think of any other event that you think this renaissance lady who plays and teaches minchiate could attend, don't hesitate to contact me via mail, in the form at the bottom of the page).

We had the pleasure to be part of this amazing annual event, the biggest in Europe. As part of the activities programmed by the Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca, Scientific Partner of Lucca Comics & Games.