Puppet Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Madragoa

Location:

The Puppet Museum is located in the historic area of Madragoa, a charming and traditional neighbourhood in Lisbon's riverside area. It is housed in a building of great historical and architectural value: the former Bernardas Convent.

This convent provides a unique setting for the museum, integrating it into an atmosphere that combines the city's history with local neighbourhood life, in a quiet and characteristic area.

A Building with History

The building that currently houses the Puppet Museum has a long and rich history. The Bernardas Convent was founded in the 17th century, but suffered significant damage in the 1755 earthquake, and was subsequently rebuilt under a new architectural project.

Over the centuries, the conventual space had various uses, functioning as a college, a secondary school, and even a performance venue. Its rehabilitation allowed for a significant part of this heritage to be adapted to house the museum's collection at the beginning of the 21st century, giving new life to this historic site.

A Journey Through the World of Puppets

The museum presents a vast collection that allows visitors to journey through the universe of puppet theatre. The core of the collection is dedicated to Portuguese tradition, showcasing different types of puppets and shows that marked popular culture, such as the emblematic Bonecos de Santo Aleixo.

The exhibition extends to an international panorama, with a remarkable collection of puppets and masks from various parts of the world, namely Asia and Africa. It is possible to observe the diversity of materials, forms, and manipulation techniques that this millennial art developed in different cultures.

The Art of Storytelling

As the first museum space in Portugal entirely dedicated to this art, the Puppet Museum aims to collect, research, and disseminate the history and universe of puppet theatre. It shows how puppets and masks are distinct and complementary forms of theatrical and narrative expression.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, which documents the evolution of this art, the museum seeks to keep puppetry alive by promoting shows and activities that allow visitors to appreciate the dynamism and magic of these storytelling figures.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt