Opera dei Pupi
© Giuseppe Distefano
Puppet in the theater of Opera dei Pupi
© Creative Commons
Collection of the theater
© Giuseppe Distefano
Puppets of the Pennisi-Macrì collection
© Creative Commons
Theater of Opera dei Pupi
Culture, Galleries and art sites, Museum and historical sites
Via Alessi, 5 - 95024 Acireale
095 7685601
095 7685601
Monday to Saturday from 9.30 to 12.30 /from 16.30 to 19.30
The Opera dei Pupi Theater starts in 1928 in Via Alessi but its foundation dates back to 1887.
Through puppets, Don Mariano Pennisi, founder of the theater, and his successor, Emanuele Macri told the typical epic-knightly stories of the acts of the paladins. The “puppeteers” (puparo), inspired by works such as “Gerusalemme Liberata” by Torquato Tasso, skillfully represented the stories of Charlemagne and the paladin Orlando.
The fame of Macri grew to the point that the “puppeteer” brought his shows abroad, where they were admired and appreciated by artists of all over the world.
The theater hosts the permanent exhibition of the collection of the Theater Pennisi-Macrì, made up of puppets and Sicilian theaters’ equipment.
Today the tradition of this particular form of art and expression is carried on by the students of Macrì.