Niki de Saint Phalle’s fantastical Tarot Garden, 1979
Enter the surreal world of the French-American sculptress at her Tarot Garden in the Italian village of Capalbio. By DELILAH KHOMO
In coastal Tuscany, on a peaceful hillside belonging to the late newspaper magnate Carlo Caracciolo, the French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle spent two decades creating her long-held dream of a surreal tarot sculpture garden, with 22 monumental tarot figures inspired by Gaudí’s Park Güell in Barcelona. During her time here, Saint Phalle set up ‘home’ in her psychedelic, sphinx-like Empress, which rises 50ft above the olive groves; her bedroom in one vividly decorated breast, her kitchen in the other. Following Saint Phalle’s death in 2002, the fantastical garden can be visited for free on the first Saturday of each month in winter, and for a small fee throughout summer. You can stay a short walk away at Caracciolo’s lovely five-bedroom retreat, Casa di Garavicchio. The house is now owned by his niece, the writer Marella Carraciolo, who is the co-author of Niki de Saint Phalle and the Tarot Garden, and still visits with her husband, Transavanguardia painter Sandro Chia. Don’t miss the latest addition to the Maremma Coast, the super-chic beach club, La Macchia, which draws a stylish crowd with its clubhouse vibe and legendary summer parties. circololamacchia.com
NEED TO KNOW The Tarot Garden is open daily from April to October and the first Saturday of each month from November to March. ilgiardinodeitarocchi.it
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