The journey starts with the introduction of playing cards into Northern Italy, around 1370-1380, most probably via Islamic Spain. These cards were called Mamluk and were Arabesque in style, comprising 52 cards.The Malmuk pack was domesticated by the Renaissance Italians, who added four queens to the deck to make the pack up to 56 playing cards.The first Tarot cards were made for the nobility of Milan and Ferrera around 1430-1440. 22 trumps were added to the 56 playing cards. The 22 cards were elaborate works of art depicting the classical deities.

The oldest surviving Tarot deck is the Visconti Sforza of Milan. The first Tarot cards were called Carte ConTrionfi which means 'The Cards of The Triumps'. They were later given the name Tarrochi (plural) or Tarrocco (singular). The word 'Tarot' is French in origin. Tarot cards were used to play a game similar to Bridge where one card could be used to 'triump' or 'trump' another card. The term 'triumphs' was also used to describe decorated floats that were drawn through the streets in processions, describing allegorical themes. Petrarch's poem 'I Trionfi' (or The Triumps) presents one such allegorical procession. Petrarch's (1304-1374) philosophical work was thought to be a way of depicting the soul's journey. Many artists were influenced by his work and Tarot historians believe some of the ideas for the Tarot trumps came from his poem.

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