Sicilian Puppet Opera Festival

Puppet Opera returns to the Castello dei Conti di Modica

In Alcamo, in the heart of the Trapani province, the Sicilian Puppet Opera is more than just a show: it is a centuries-old family tradition. Each year, the festival invites audiences of all ages into the Castello dei Conti di Modica, the imposing 14th-century fortress overlooking Piazza della Repubblica, to witness the deeds of the Paladins of France narrated through traditional armed puppets.

The Compagnia Gaspare Canino

This art is preserved and carried forward by the Compagnia Opera dei Pupi Siciliani Gaspare Canino, founded in 1997 by master puppeteer Salvatore Oliveri, grandson of Gaspare Canino. The dynasty's roots stretch back to the 19th century: the founder, Liberto Canino, opened his first theater in Palermo around 1830, while Gaspare was the last active puppeteer in Alcamo and the entire Trapani province until his passing in 1977. After years of silence, Oliveri revived this ancient art in 1990, bringing the puppets back to the Alcamo stage, often accompanied by storyteller Salvatore Fundarò.

Carolingian Cycle Performances

The festival's repertoire draws from the great chivalric cycle of Orlando Furioso and Sicilian folk tradition. Featured titles include:

• The Wounds of Rinaldo — one of the most intense and dramatic works in the repertoire, recounting the extreme trials, spells, and ambushes faced by the French paladin;
• Lady Rovenza — the story of the Queen of Soria, who fights with a heavy steel hammer and wears enchanted armor, culminating in a final duel with Rinaldo;
• Ruggero di Risa, The Siricano Gradasso, and other episodes from the paladins' cycle;
• the unmissable Farces of Virticchiu and Nofrio, two of the most beloved comic masks in Sicilian folk tradition.

A UNESCO Heritage

The Puppet Opera has been proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Attending a performance at the Alcamo festival means experiencing a form of theater that blends sculpture, painting, acting, and music. Shows typically begin at 6:00 PM and, on certain dates, coincide with the festivities in honor of Maria Santissima dei Miracoli, the city's patron saint. It is a perfect opportunity to discover Alcamo, its traditions, and its medieval castle.