Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 10! After an inspirational discussion about Santa Rosalia, our emotions were conjured. The will and faith of the people of Palermo touched our hearts — especially the stories about father Puglisi and his work supporting the young minds of the city, aiming to undermine the power of the Mafia. After…
Tag: opera dei pupi
A Sicilian Marionette
The marionette, or pupo, Orlando from the UNESCO recognized marionette theater, l’Opera dei pupi…a cultural treasure of Sicily
Recalling A Time of Chivalry In Sicily
The UNESCO recognized opera dei pupi was a popular form of entertainment in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Before film and television, it was a favorite form of diversion for men and boys (It’s actually pretty violent and bawdy!). Our hero Orlando and the knights and their enemies recall the age of chivalry, originating…
Day 9 of Experience Sicily Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below | Creative Minds
Live from Sicily! Day 9 of Experience Sicily Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below. With the help of Francesco, we explored the excentric mind of the Prince of Palagonia at Villa Palagonia in Bagheria. The estate’s hall of mirrors surprised and begged questions about the owner’s critical mind. Once in the vibrant center…
Orlando Inspired Us: The Opera Dei Pupi in Acireale, Sicily
Live from Sicily! We laughed, shouted, booed, and cried for Orlando during the opera dei pupi (marionette theater) last evening. The magnificent Opera di Pupi Turi Grasso theater company showed us the joys and craftsmanship of their multigenerational master work! We were all so inspired–us and the Grasso family too!
What To Pack For Your Spring Trip to Sicily
Packing for any trip is a chore, but packing for Sicily in springtime is a mystery! Our Experience Sicily clients receive a comprehensive packing list in their tour preparation packets, yet I don’t get into specifics about clothes because there is such a difference depending on the time of year. Just like anywhere during this…
Give Orlando A Hand
After the opera dei pupi, be sure to stick around to see if you could join the marionette troupe. You’ll find that operating Orlando is not as easy at it looks!
They Draw Their Swords
As explained yesterday, the most obvious difference between the Palermo school and the Catania schools of the opera dei pupi is the size of the marionettes. In addition, importantly (and proudly, I might add), the marionettes from Palermo not only have the ability to bend their knees, and kneel, but they also have the ability…
Two Schools of Pupi
There are two schools of the opera dei pupi in Sicily: the Palermo school and the Catania school. The Palermitan school’s theaters are smaller in scope and the marionettes are operated from the side wings, while Catanian theaters are larger and the marionettes are operated from above. This points to the difference in craftsmanship between…
It Runs In The Family
Sicily’s opera dei pupi’s theater troupes–more often than not, multiple generations of families–adapts stories from the medieval French epic poems, such as Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto, Gerusalemme liberata by Torquato Tasso, and Orlando innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo, to name a few. Orlando, our beloved hero, pictured, is identified by a cross on his…