A fireworks display of human imagination

Niki de Saint Phalle – does this name mean anything to you? It certainly meant nothing to us until today. But after visiting the artist's Tarot garden, I will never forget it.

Angelika had given us the tip – for which we are very grateful. The 70 kilometers from Grosseto to Capalbio were a slight detour, but one that was truly worthwhile.

Here, Niki de Saint Phalle realized her dream. Between 1978 and 2002, 22 figures were created from steel, concrete, and ceramic that represent important lessons, turning points, and spiritual insights in tarot divination.

The Franco-Swiss artist visited Antoni Gaudí’s Park Güell in Barcelona at the age of 25 – and was so fascinated that she decided: “I will build my own garden of joy. A small paradise corner. A meeting place for humans and nature.” Twenty-four years later, she began the greatest adventure of her life. Over the following two and a half decades, she made her dream a reality.

We experienced the park in radiant sunshine as a small miracle – a fireworks display of human imagination. The millions of tiny, colorful ceramics, mirror, and glass mosaics that cover each of the figures, which are up to 15 meters tall, shine like a counterpart to the deep green Tuscan landscape – and at the same time, they seem to merge with it.

I was particularly impressed by the tenacity with which Niki de Saint Phalle held on to this dream throughout her life and channeled all her energy to make it come true. She passed away in 2002 – but her garden lives on, as a gift to many, many people.