The handmade Armor
The Puppet Theatre Museum of Caltagirone: popular tradition since 1918
10 February 2023 - Categorie: The places of the heart, Cultural tourism, Archaeological sites and museums Tags:
Those who travel to Sicily are attracted not only by its sea, its sun, its scents and its colors, but also by its popular traditions and its history which is inevitably and inextricably linked to the present. During your holidays on this wonderful island, you cannot miss a trip to the splendid and characteristic Puppet Theater Museum of Caltagirone, in the magnificent province of Catania, one of the most sought-after cities by international and local tourism. The city also offers an excellent starting point for visiting the beauties of the place such as the Etna Volcano and its piedmont villages rich in traditions and food and wine. You can also reach magical places such as the Alcantara Gorges, Taormina, Noto, Syracuse and Ragusa. And don't worry: if this tour may seem tiring, you can always rest and enjoy the luxury and comfort of our beautiful villas with private pools in and around Catania.
The Puppet Company di Caltagirone, also known as the Primary Company, began its adventure in the distant 1918 thanks to its animator Don Gaetano Russo and was active, albeit on a non-continuous basis, until 1989, the year of the death of Gesualdo Pepe. 'last was director, impresario, set up and scriptwriter. In 1992, thanks to the intervention of the owners of the puppet and sign collection (large posters containing the program of theatrical performances), the Theater Museum was reopened and restored to its former glory. The Pupi collection contains about 70 subjects ranging in size from 1.20 to 1.45 m, entirely made of wood, and about 50 spare heads that allow you to have a great variety of characters. The puppets are dressed in satin and velvet suits and equipped with copper and iron armor, all worked meticulously by hand. To enrich the exhibitions and shows is also the exhibition of cart keys (from whose study of the sculptures present there we can trace the time when the cart was finished and delivered to the owner) and historical texts, dated 1918, from which the Russo was inspired by his theatrical performances.
The Puppet Company di Caltagirone, also known as the Primary Company, began its adventure in the distant 1918 thanks to its animator Don Gaetano Russo and was active, albeit on a non-continuous basis, until 1989, the year of the death of Gesualdo Pepe. 'last was director, impresario, set up and scriptwriter. In 1992, thanks to the intervention of the owners of the puppet and sign collection (large posters containing the program of theatrical performances), the Theater Museum was reopened and restored to its former glory. The Pupi collection contains about 70 subjects ranging in size from 1.20 to 1.45 m, entirely made of wood, and about 50 spare heads that allow you to have a great variety of characters. The puppets are dressed in satin and velvet suits and equipped with copper and iron armor, all worked meticulously by hand. To enrich the exhibitions and shows is also the exhibition of cart keys (from whose study of the sculptures present there we can trace the time when the cart was finished and delivered to the owner) and historical texts, dated 1918, from which the Russo was inspired by his theatrical performances.
The illuminated theatre
The height of the puppet
The puppets recall the epic chivalrous deeds of the Paladins of Charlemagne fighting against the Saracens. They tell stories from the Chanson de Roland, from Gerusalemme Liberata and from Orlando Furioso and many other stories from the Passion of Christ to Garibaldi's exploits to the stories of brigands. Since the mid-19th century, the opera dei Pupi spread throughout Sicily, staging both in small theaters and outdoors in the squares, and immediately became popular heritage thanks to its stories and characters carrying the moral values of the European civilization. Take a moment of pause during your holidays in the delightful Eastern Sicily to do something different and that only our puppets can give to tourists: a dip in history in a fun and carefree way suitable for both adults and children. Caltagirone awaits only you with its many sensational characters.
Recommended villas
Nerello Mascalese: Splendid country residence located on the slopes of the Etna volcano, very close to the characteristic town of Randazzo. With its 5 bedrooms, it is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends for a holiday of peace and quiet, detached from the chaos of the city. The residence has many shaded corners in which to relax and a delightful private swimming pool in which to cool off in the hottest hours and be able to observe the wonderful panorama over the hills of Eastern Sicily.
Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.
Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.
Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.
Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence that was born a few kilometers from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic home that has been renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.
Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.
Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.
Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.
Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence that was born a few kilometers from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic home that has been renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.