Puppet Museum

The Puppet Museum (in portuguese, Museu da Marioneta) is a space dedicated to homage the theater and opera of puppets, having opened its doors in 1987. Currently, it is housed in the Convento das Bernardas¹, built in 1653 by the order of the King D. João IV.

The Companhia de Marionetas de S. Lourenço², founded in May of 1973 by Helena Vaz and José Alberto Gil, provided the assets to the museum. In this collection, it is possible to find the fantastic collection of African and Asian masks and puppets once belonging to the Maecenas Francisco Capelo.

At a level of national assets, the museum counts with a collection of superior quality and diversity of traditional puppets. About this theme, the visitor will find various contexts like the rural theater, market context, urban theater and erudite theater.

In this museum space, the more curious ones may discover all the essential stages to the construction of puppets.

Translation references

1. Bernardas Convent
2. Puppet Company of S. Lourenço