Italia Divina – Discover Italy through playing cards!

The Italia Divina series, created by Giovanni of Thirdway Industries, reimagines traditional playing cards as a cultural exploration of Italy. Each deck in the series — Italia Radiosa, Italia Segreta, and Italia Divina — is presented as a 'modern oracle' that combines the structure of poker playing cards with themes inspired by Italian travel and mythology. The core concept is to introduce users to the 'Goddesses of Italy,' suggesting a focus on mythological figures or personified aspects of Italian culture and geography.

Launched successfully on Kickstarter in 2020, the project raised $39,804 from 484 backers, indicating a strong interest in its unique blend of functionality and thematic depth. While primarily designed as playing cards, the 'modern oracles' description hints at an additional layer of interpretive or divinatory potential, inviting users to engage with the cards beyond standard games. The creator, Giovanni, is known for telling stories through his custom playing cards, often drawing from mythology, astronomy, and psychology, which aligns with the thematic approach of Italia Divina.

The series aims to offer a distinctive product that appeals to both playing card collectors and those interested in Italian culture and mythology. The design ethos appears to balance the practical requirements of a playing card deck with the aesthetic and narrative elements of a travel guide, creating a collectible item that also serves as an engaging tool for discovery. The inclusion of multiple decks within the series suggests variations in theme or artistic style across Italia Radiosa, Italia Segreta, and Italia Divina, each offering a different facet of the Italian experience.

This series is ideal for playing card collectors who appreciate unique, custom-designed decks with rich thematic content. It also appeals to individuals interested in Italian culture, mythology, and travel, offering an artistic way to explore these themes. Readers who enjoy oracle decks with a strong narrative or cultural focus, even if the primary function is playing cards, may find these decks engaging. The 'modern oracles' aspect suggests an audience open to multi-functional decks that blend game play with symbolic interpretation.

Giovanni, the designer and illustrator from Milan, Italy, is the owner of Thirdway Industries, a brand specializing in custom playing cards and coins. Since 2014, he has funded numerous projects through Kickstarter, producing tens of thousands of decks. His main goal is to tell amazing stories, with a particular interest in mythology, astronomy, psychology, and 'naughty themes.' The Italia Divina series reflects his passion for mythology and storytelling, applying it to the rich cultural tapestry of Italy.