What is italy playing cards?

Italy has a long history of playing cards dating back to the late 14th century. Italian playing cards typically feature four suits: swords, cups, coins, and clubs. The swords and clubs suits resemble the French suit of spades and the cups and coins suits resemble the French suit of hearts. The cards are typically smaller than standard playing cards, measuring approximately 3.5 by 2.25 inches.

One of the most popular games played with Italian playing cards is Scopone, which is a trick-taking game for four players. Other popular games include Briscola, Tressette, and Sette e Mezzo.

Italian playing cards also have unique court cards, featuring figures from Italian history and culture such as Julius Caesar, Hannibal, and Dante Alighieri. The discarding of a card is also done differently in Italian playing cards. Instead of discarding a card to the side, players flip the card and place it on top of the deck.

Italian playing cards remain a popular pastime in Italy and can be found in many Italian households and cafes.