Puppet Lab and Theater in Syracuse

The charm of the traditional "Puppet Theater (or "Opera dei pupi", the Sicilian marionette show) is such that it is common to find foreign tourists, who do not speak Italian, at the performances offered for more than a century by the Vaccaro-Mauceri family.
 

The puppet theater of the Vaccaro-Mauceri family in Syracuse, the only one still offering a regular season in all of eastern Sicily.

Born in the 19th century by adapting to the tastes of the people the world of chivalrous knights of Charlemagne and that of the Liberation of Jerusalem by Tasso and Ariosto's The Frenzy of Orlando, the puppet theater has become an art form in itself, to the point of outliving the models from which it developed. Today it has been proclaimed an “Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.
Brave paladins, hideous monsters, angelic maidens, dark magicians, treacherous Saracen warriors, cunning wetnurses, giants, fairies and more, these are the characters who inhabit the world of this theater.

The abundance of bright colors, sounds and noises, lights and dramatic twists guarantee an unusual experience, fascinating for its relevant cultural and historical elements to adults, and absolutely magical for children. They are themselves, the children, growing up in an era of special effects and computer-graphic cinematography, under the great spell of this art form that is quite unusual for them.

The pupari (puppeteers) who manage both the theater and the nearby laboratory (visible from the street, in which the "pupi" (puppets) are constructed), belong to a dynasty that has handed down this craft for generations.  They still make each puppet entirely by hand, with a core made of painted wood, armatures in embossed metal, hand-sewn clothes, and so on.
Each "pupo" requires one month of work.
The puppeteers of the Vaccaro-Mauceri company are all very young and very in love with their work, as well as willing to explain, before and after the show (commitments allowing, of course), the history and secrets of this fascinating form of folk art.
 

Two “pupi” ready to do battle.

The texts of the plays are written by the same company, using traditional plots, and are in Italian, with only a few lines here and there in Sicilian dialect. The show lasts around half an hour, so it is feasible even for those children who must not go to bed too late.

This is a show that can be enjoyed by both adults and children, albeit for different reasons, and, taking place just steps away from the Hotel Algilà, may be the most appropriate ending for a day dedicated to the culture or the sea.
You can watch a few excerpts from Opera dei Pupi performances on Youtube.

Arethusian Puppet Museum
Run by the same family that manages the workshop and the puppet theater of Syracuse, the Puppet Museum in Syracuse is in the Palazzo Midiri Cardona, in Piazza San Giuseppe in Ortigia.
The collection includes props, puppets, sketches, posters, woodworking tools and all that testifies to the work of the Vaccaro family after the war.
Information may be requested by telephone / fax at (++39) 0931 465540, or through the website of the Vaccaro-Mauceri family.
 

The puppeteers thank the audience after the show.

How to reach the laboratory and the puppet theater from the Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel.
The laboratory and the "Piccolo teatro dei pupi e delle figure" of the Vaccaro-Mauceri family are located in Via della Giudecca 17 and 19 respectively, a few hundred meters / feet from the Hotel Algilà. Therefore, the most practical way to reach them is with a short walk.
There are no architectural barriers along the way, and the theater, on the ground floor, is fully accessible to people with walking difficulties.
The Puppet Museum is a little further away.

Visitor Information
The laboratory in which the "pupi" are constructed can be visited with a simple appointment.
The opening of the theater follows an annual program that allows one to know the days of operation in advance.
As a rule, from March to July, the theater is open roughly every other day, with shows at 9:30 p.m., except on holidays, in which case it is held at 6:30 p.m.
In August, it is open most days with two shows, at 6:30 p.m. (more suitable for children who have to go to bed early) and 9:30 p.m.  From September to March, the programming is reduced, with afternoon performances only at 6:30 p.m.  In February, the theater is closed for a holiday.
More detailed information can be requested at the Hotel Algilà’s reception desk, or by telephoning (++39) 0931 465540 (landline) or (++39) 347 3810826 (mobile).  Reservations are also possible (the theater is small, and during periods of increased tourism booking may be advisable).
The website is http://www.pupari.com

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