Opera dei Pupi, Traditional puppet theater in Palermo, Italy
Opera dei Pupi is a traditional Sicilian marionette art performed in Palermo, telling stories about medieval knights and Moorish warriors. The figures are made of wood and moved with iron rods while puppeteers stand behind the stage and speak the voices live.
The tradition began in the early 19th century when Sicilian puppeteers brought stories from French medieval literature such as the Song of Roland and Orlando Furioso to the stage. The art spread quickly across the island and developed different regional styles in Palermo and Catania.
The puppeteers work iron rods through the head and right hand of each figure, and the audience watches these movements from seats directly facing the stage. Families often bring children to performances to share the old stories of knights and battles that have been passed down through generations.
The International Museum of Marionettes in Palermo displays collections of puppets from different periods and offers regular performances for visitors throughout the year. The shows usually take place in the evening and last about an hour, with stories often continuing over several nights.
Each figure wears real metal armor and weighs between 8 and 16 kilograms (18 to 35 pounds), requiring special strength and skill to manipulate. The playing style differs clearly between Palermo and Catania: in Palermo the puppets move with faster, sharper gestures, while in Catania they perform softer and slower movements.
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