Marionette Museum (Museu da Marioneta)
The Marionette Museum in Lisbon presents one of the world’s most important collections of theatrical puppets. The collection is based on marionettes, characters from ancient plays and operas of medieval Portugal. They are complemented by puppets brought from other countries of the world. Here you can see marionettes made in different techniques, as well as theater and masquerade masks of all kinds. The museum is located in a beautiful and ancient building of the former Bernardas Monastery. The collection of the marionette museum has about four thousand exhibits from more than 30 countries of the world.
General information
The museum’s exposition is entirely devoted to the history of marionettes and puppet theaters. Some marionettes in the form of figures of knights, princesses, jesters and even devils date back to the 17th and 18th century. In addition to the traditional marionettes of Portugal, the museum exhibits the famous collection of African and Asian marionettes and masks of the collector Francisco Capelo. Guests of the museum can also see oriental masks and puppets from such exotic places as Java and Bali, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Japan and China. There are also traditional Russian puppets and marionettes from Sicily among the exhibits. “The highlight” of the museum is considered to be the collection of artifacts from famous European and Portuguese puppet families.
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The museum’s rooms are equipped with interactive displays that allow you to view videos. The movies introduce visitors to ancient rituals, plays, carnivals, folk festivals and other performances that utilize puppets. The Marionette Museum in Lisbon provides a visual representation of the development of national theatrical traditions in the countries of Europe, and the harmonious connection between art and family values.
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The museum has a designated room for children to play with the puppets.
.Useful information
Address: Rua Esperanza 146, 1200 Lisboa, Portugal.Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00, admission stops 30 min. before the museum closes.Cost: 5 €, family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) – 12 €, for children 6-14 years old, students up to 25 years old, pensioners and groups – 3 €, for children 2-5 years old – 1,5 €, for children under 2 years old – free of charge. Free admission for all categories on Sundays until lunchtime.How to get to the Marionette Museum in Lisbon: take buses #706, 713, 714, 727; streetcar #25.Conditions of visit: no late arrivals or people with pets (except guide dogs) are allowed.Restrictions: no smoking, drinking, eating, photography or videotaping without permission.Phone: +351 213 942 810
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