Museu das Marionetas do Porto

About the museum

João Paulo Seara Cardoso (1956–2010), director and artistic director of Marionetas do Porto, had the idea of creating a puppet museum. In 2002 an almost ruined building on Rua das Flores, 22, was rented, where extensive works were carried out, and the museum opened on 3 February 2013, the founder's birthday. The opening marked the company's 25th anniversary.

With the sale of that building, the museum moved to Rua de Belomonte, 61, next to the company's headquarters, the Teatro de Belomonte. The design is by the architect José Gigante, who also designed the theatre and the first museum. The space has two floors, where posters, stage design pieces, photographs, props, puppets and videos of performances and documentaries are displayed.

It is an author's museum, centred on the work of João Paulo Seara Cardoso. The exhibition “O Universo Onírico das Marionetas do Porto” (The Dreamlike Universe of the Marionetas do Porto) brings together emblematic creations of the company linked to dreams. It includes an experimentation space designed as a mini-theatre and a room that hosts temporary exhibitions by puppet companies twice a year.

Highlights

• Puppets, stage design and props of the Marionetas do Porto company
• Exhibition “O Universo Onírico das Marionetas do Porto”
• Experimentation space in the form of a mini-theatre
• Tactile puppets and audio guides in four languages
• Author's museum of João Paulo Seara Cardoso

Permanent exhibition

• O Universo Onírico das Marionetas do Porto – Emblematic works of the company linked to dreams, with puppets, props and an experimentation space designed as a mini-theatre.

Founded

2013

Operated by

Marionetas do Porto

Admission & discounts

Guided visits last about one hour and require advance booking.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The old building has no lift. The ground floor is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to ramps, but the basement can only be reached by stairs; a virtual visit is available for that floor. There is a video guide in Portuguese Sign Language on the touch screens, tactile puppets, tactile paving and audio description.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Workshops are available by booking, such as “Manipula Tu” (building and manipulating a puppet, from age 6) and “Música a Meias”. The experimentation space lets visitors try the roles of puppeteer, director and light, sound and video technician.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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