Tarocco Siciliano
The highly individual Sicilian Tarot has the Italo-Portuguese suit system with straight, interlocking swords and batons, and maids instead of jacks
The highly individual “Sicilian Tarot” has the Italo-Portuguese suit system (found also in Minchiate and some early Spanish packs) with straight, interlocking swords and batons, maids instead of jacks in all suits, and suppresses the four aces and lower numeral cards. Several of the 22 trumps have new classicised images replacing the older ones which were seen as offensive (and some are derived from Minchiate). Trump 1 (i Picotti) shows some lads playing. The banner held by trump 4 sometimes reads “La Constanza” which identifies it as one of the ethical virtues. Trump 11, the Hanged Man, shows a man lynched from a tree. Trump 14 shows a ship, trumps 16, 17 & 18 are not the customary scenes. Trump 19 shows Atlas holding the celestial globe and trump 20 shows Jupiter. In early packs the trumps carried roman numerals but from the 19th century arabic numerals are found.
Above: the Fool is the highest ranking trump and serves to excuse the player from following suit. Miseria is the lowest trump, with no point-value, and ranking below trump 1.
The Court Cards
The cards are of a relatively small size compared to other tarocchi sets. The suits are of the Portuguese type, and the court cards are based on the Archaic South Italian or Portuguese pattern with Maids (Donne) as the lowest court figures of all suits, and intersecting batons and swords on the numeral cards. No aces are used in the game.
Above: Tarocco Siciliano No.94 manufactured by Modiano S.p.A., Trieste, c.1960, 64 cards in box. An ace of coins is included for the purpose of carrying the tax stamp.
Further References
Salvatore Bonaccorsi, Nicola De Giorgio, Emilia Maggio: The origins of the “Portuguese” suit system for playing cards and tarots in Sicily►
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Activity for Tarocco Siciliano
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Tarocco Gumppenberg
Neoclassical Empire-style Tarocchi cards by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan, c.1810.
Austrian Tarock by S.D. Modiano
Modiano’s Austrian Tarock with country scenes has been in production for over 100 years.
Natural History Tarocchi
Natural History Tarocchi by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan.
Tarocco Piemontese by Giovanni Rossi
18th c. Piedmont Tarocchi by Giovanni Rossi, Turin.
Tarocchini Bolognesi by Carlo Zanardi
Tarocchini Bolognesi by Carlo Zanardi, c.1850
V. F. Solesio Tarot
V. F. Solesio Tarot, Genoa, mid-late 19th century.
Tarocchi di Mantegna, c.1465
The so-called Tarocchi di Mantegna (c.1465) reflect an ideological structure bringing to mind the so...
Sola-Busca Tarocchi
The Sola-Busca Tarocchi, c.1491
Vergnano Tarot 1826-1851
Stefano Vergnano’s Tarot and playing card factory holds a special place in the history of the Tarot....
Portuguese pattern
19th century Portuguese pattern, re-printed from original woodblocks.
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot published by Fratelli Avondo, c.1880.
Mitelli Tarocchini
The title refers to “a new form of Tarocchini”. Mitelli's designs are to a high standard of artistic...
Piacentine Pattern
Piacentine Pattern, several double-ended versions.
Piedmont Pattern
The Piedmont pattern is a very close relative to the French 'Paris' pattern. The courts are not name...
Trevisane pattern
The double-ended version of the ‘Trevisane’ pattern originated in the early 19th century.
Tarocco Piemontese | Piedmontese tarot
The double ended version of the Piedmontese Tarot evolved during the second half of the nineteenth c...
XV Century Italian Playing Cards
Cards from a pack of an early form of north Italian playing cards, with the swords back-to-back and ...
The Visconti-Sforza Tarot, c.1460
This pack of tarot cards appears to have have been made in the Bembo workshop in Cremona for Bianca ...
Tarocco Milanesi by Lamperti (Milan) c.1850
Tarocco Milanesi by Lamperti (Milan) c.1850
Italian Playing Cards
The first reliable evidence that playing cards were being used in Italy is from 1376, when a game ca...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Jason Somers
10 June 2026, 06:38SavedSaved this article to Jason Somers's Collection