The Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum
The Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum
The Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum
4
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
About
The Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum was founded in 1975 by the Association for the Conservation of Folk Traditions. It conserves about 4,000 items, including marionettes, marottes, hand puppets, shadow puppets, theatrical machines and playbills from all over the world. Among these, it houses the largest and most complete collection of pupi from Palermo, Catania and Naples, used in the Opera dei pupi, that is Sicilian traditional puppetry, proclaimed by UNESCO a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. Besides, you can find many other objects used in the other puppet traditions which have obtained the same award: the Japanese Ningyo Johruri Bunraku, the Indonesian Wayang Kulit, the Cambodian Sbek Thom and The collection also includes important contemporary artworks, created by Enrico Baj, Tadeusz Kantor and Renato Guttuso. In 2017, it received the ICOM Italy's award as Museum of the Year.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
238 reviews
Excellent
116
Very good
78
Average
26
Poor
13
Terrible
5
Beth N
Amersham, United Kingdom109 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I was amazed at the sheer variety of puppets - they were displayed in some parts by country - others hung from the ceiling. There were small rooms devoted to various types of puppet show - down to the differences between Catania and PAlermo puppet shows! Certainly a museum with a difference. They do offer live puppet shows but I didn't have time to stay.
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SFExpat
Lyon, France83 contributions
Apr 2013 • Family
We were excited to go to one of the more (potentially) child-friendly attractions in Palermo. So after seeking out this museum, we were somewhat disappointed to find what in fact is a great collection of puppets and shadow figures, but in a poor state of display, with very little information about them and all of the videos out of order.
It seems that the museum was installed and subsequently all but forgotten.
If you are a die-hard puppet afficianado, you might be well impressed. But if you are going to learn about puppets and stimulate the interest of your kids, you probably won't be satisfied.
It seems that the museum was installed and subsequently all but forgotten.
If you are a die-hard puppet afficianado, you might be well impressed. But if you are going to learn about puppets and stimulate the interest of your kids, you probably won't be satisfied.
Written 29 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jim c
london118 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
We went to this puppet museum and thoroughly enjoyed it. The collection covers puppets from all over the world. The traditional Sicilian puppet section is the best.
We were upset that between june and october they do not hold regular puppet shows.
However the Museum staff sent us to
Teatro Argento The Sicilian Puppet Theatre on Pietro novelli street near the Cathedral where we watched the most amazing show by a family of puppeteers whose family have been running the theatre since 1893!! (Tel 091.6113680 to book )
We were upset that between june and october they do not hold regular puppet shows.
However the Museum staff sent us to
Teatro Argento The Sicilian Puppet Theatre on Pietro novelli street near the Cathedral where we watched the most amazing show by a family of puppeteers whose family have been running the theatre since 1893!! (Tel 091.6113680 to book )
Written 12 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnemiekNetherlands
Netherlands153 contributions
Sept 2013
After visiting a marvelous puppet show in the Teatro Argento we set out for this museum. There are lots of puppets on display from all over the world. The Japanese video stopped soon after it started thanks to electricity interruption and lacked subtitles (I happend not to speak Japanese). The other video I managed to start was a very simple registration of a Sicilian puppet show wich hampered many times.
All in all little information, lack of demonstrations for too much money. Save you money, don't visit this place
All in all little information, lack of demonstrations for too much money. Save you money, don't visit this place
Written 16 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steveR11_11
Salisbury, UK51 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
This museum is really overpriced for what it offers. On paying we were given a leaflet and directed up to the second floor of the small building. There were a few lacklustre displays of puppets not all of which had labels. Apart from that there really waasn't anything to see. Perhaps if you were a real puppet enthusiast you would appreciate what you were seeing but for us it was a real disappointment.
Written 2 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam S
Oakland, California, United States93 contributions
Oct 2012 • Solo
I went to puppet museums in both Siracusa and Palermo and I have to say I found the puppet museum in Siracusa, which is quite a bit smaller, much more charming than the Palermo one. In Palermo, there is a huge collection of Balinese puppets. I happened to arrive here as a big festival of puppetry is being hosted at the museum in Palermo, and most of the shows are from Balinese puppeteers. While I understand the Palermo museum is international in scope, I wish that more attention was put into the Sicilian puppet tradition.
I heard a guide who was leading a tour through the museum explain the different types of puppets on display in the Sicilian puppet room. It was a beautiful explanation of the regional differences in puppeterring in Sicily and I wondered why there was NO BOOK and NO INTERPRETIVE display in the museum to add to your understanding of what you were seeing. There is very little in general and virtually nothing in English. This is a pity as it is a very big missed opportunity.
That said you should still go and see this museum - it's a must.
I heard a guide who was leading a tour through the museum explain the different types of puppets on display in the Sicilian puppet room. It was a beautiful explanation of the regional differences in puppeterring in Sicily and I wondered why there was NO BOOK and NO INTERPRETIVE display in the museum to add to your understanding of what you were seeing. There is very little in general and virtually nothing in English. This is a pity as it is a very big missed opportunity.
That said you should still go and see this museum - it's a must.
Written 21 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sweetp0707London
london14 contributions
We visited the museum on a rainy day in October 09. The actual museum is okay but we happend to arrive when the puppet show was due to start. We took a chanced a paid for a ticket and it was the best thing we did all holiday. Great show enjoyed by all especially our 4 year old son. We didnt understand the story in Italien but the puppets and performance was brillant.
Written 27 October 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rui P
Lisbon, Portugal177 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
Getting a bit away from the usual religious tourism of Palermo, this museum stands out and an interesting place to visit for people of every age. Showing the tradition of puppets of the city, as well as some other works from other parts of the world. A must-go, if you want to get some rest of the churches and palaces, and get some different views of the Sicilian culture.
Written 20 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris A
Manchester, UK165 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
The marionette museum is fairly easy to find behind piazza Marina, following the signs from Corso Vittorio Emanuelle down via Buttera and it is on the right. From Monday to Saturday they have puppet shows at 5.30 and it is a good idea to time your visit with one of these. We arrived about 4.30 and spent time looking at the exhibits and then saw the show. The entry is 5 euros and the show is 10 euros each and the show lasts about 30/45 mins.
The exhibition has an international reach and we found this fascinating. There was also some Kantor material, as well as puppets used in the traditional Sicilian shows. I guess more information would be useful, but I really enjoyed just looking at and being so close to the puppets, to appreciate the skill and execution of them.
The show itself was a riot of shouted dialogue, I think in Sicilian, with stomping sounds and lots of fighting and action scenes - the fight scenes often involved heads being cleaved in two or chopped off, and there was a scrap with a dragon as well. The way they do it is great, there is a young lad operating what looks like a small barrel organ for musical accompaniment, and the puppeteers walk in and you can hear them setting up.
At the end of the show, a truly unique thing happened, they brought two of the puppets round the front to show the audience, and let us handle them, and they demonstrated some of the techniques up close.
The exhibition has an international reach and we found this fascinating. There was also some Kantor material, as well as puppets used in the traditional Sicilian shows. I guess more information would be useful, but I really enjoyed just looking at and being so close to the puppets, to appreciate the skill and execution of them.
The show itself was a riot of shouted dialogue, I think in Sicilian, with stomping sounds and lots of fighting and action scenes - the fight scenes often involved heads being cleaved in two or chopped off, and there was a scrap with a dragon as well. The way they do it is great, there is a young lad operating what looks like a small barrel organ for musical accompaniment, and the puppeteers walk in and you can hear them setting up.
At the end of the show, a truly unique thing happened, they brought two of the puppets round the front to show the audience, and let us handle them, and they demonstrated some of the techniques up close.
Written 23 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl O
Gibbstown, NJ70 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
Fortunately, I attended the marionette show across the little street from the marionette museum. It was spectacular! Even though it was in Italian and did not understand a word, I was able to follow the story line with the little translation they gave us. You sit on small benches in this quaint theater. At the conclusion of the show, the puppeteers came on stage with the marionettes. It was fabulous, the people looked like giants! I would absolutely recommend this to everyone. If I can find it again, I will be sure to attend another show.
Written 5 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G O
Scoglitti, Italy
desidero sapere se la prima domenica del mese l'ingresso al museo è gratuito
Written 27 April 2023
Salve, in occasione dell'evento di questo mese de "le vie dei tesori" sono previsti spettacoli durante le visite? Quanto costa uno spettacolo?
Written 7 October 2017
Salve le posto un link sul quale può trovare tutte le info che desidera. leviedeitesori itinerariocontemporaneo
Comunque il museo aderisce alle vie dei tesori. Per quanto riguarda il prezzo dello spettacolo mi pare che sia costato 5€ a testa più l'ingresso al museo. Le due quote sono separate
Written 9 October 2017
Mi dispiace ma non saprei, anche se lo dovrebbe essere così come negli altri musei.
Written 30 September 2017
Is there an English language show? When I went once before, I could not understand what the marionettes said and was bored quickly.
Written 2 March 2017
I don't know, because there were no shows at all during the first week of January, when I visited the museum
Sorry
Written 3 March 2017
Is this museum open in September please? I went onto their site but there is only a schedule till June. I also found days from October to June so I was wondering if it's closed during the other months.
Also, does anyone know the days it's open in September (if open) and how much if costs?
Thanks
Written 10 February 2016
Salve,
avrei bisogno di sapere gli orari di apertura, il costo del biglietto d'ingresso, se esistono sconti o riduzioni per studenti e anziani non residenti in eu.
RingraziandoVi anticipatamente per la cortesia, porgo distinti saluti
Gianluca
Written 14 March 2015
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