Museu da Marioneta, Lisbon

The Museu da Marioneta is a museum devoted entirely to puppetry, and its home is the Convent of Bernardas. Since November 2001, it has occupied this former convent in Lisbon. It is Portugal’s first museum dedicated wholly to interpreting and sharing the history of puppetry, with Portuguese traditions receiving particular attention.

Inside, the collection brings together many kinds of puppets and follows theatrical practices rooted in older traditions as well as newer artistic work. The museum began in 1987, created by the São Lourenço Puppet Company, whose travelling performances provided the starting collection. Its scope later widened beyond Portugal: since late 2008, the museum has held Francisco Capelo’s extensive collection of puppets and masks from Southeast Asia and Africa on deposit.

The building itself carries a dramatic history. Founded in 1653, the convent was almost destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and rebuilt from 1758 under architect Giacomo Azzolini. After many later uses, it was restored between November 1999 and July 2001. Today, a museum devoted to an ancient stage art shares this former convent with homes, a community centre and a restaurant.