Sicily’s most popular form of traditional entertainment is the Opera dei Pupi (rod-marionette theatre), and the best place to attend a performance is in Palermo.
Marionettes were first introduced to the island by the Spanish in the 18th century and the art form was quickly embraced by locals, who were enthralled with the re-enacted tales of Charlemagne and his heroic knights Orlando and Rinaldo. Effectively the soap operas of their day, these puppet shows expounded the deepest sentiments of life: unrequited love, treachery, thirst for justice and the anger and frustration of the oppressed.
Back then, a puppet could speak volumes where a man could not.
There are traditionally two types of Opera in Sicily, Palermitan (performed in Palermo, Agrigento and Trapani) and Catanese (in Catania, Messina and Syracuse).
The marionettes are carved from beech, olive or lemon tree wood, and some of them can stand over 1,5 meters high. Their joints are made with rods and they are richly decorated in every detail. The knights usually wear metal suits of armor, that make the figure shine and resonate when they engage in swordfights with horrifying monsters or ferocious Saracens.
The best puppeteers are judged on the dramatic effect they can create, with their voice, the stamping feet and the skill in directing the battle scenes. Nowadays the Opera dei Pupi has been relegated to folklore status, maintained by a few companies which perform usually for a small audience of tourists and children.
