Puppet shows were long one of the most popular forms of entertainment for children, in particular (though not exclusively), and though they are less common now, they can still be found throughout the globe. In Italy, especially, the tradition remains rather strong and if you happen to be planning a vacation in Rome and are bringing some little ones with you then you might be glad to know that there is still a puppet theatre in the city. This historical and very pretty little theatre is a charming place where kids can be entertained while engaging with the history and cultural heritage of the city. There is just so much to see and do in Rome, so many centuries of history to uncover and explore, but children might not always enjoy tramping through museums and old buildings with you. So, once you have found your villa in Rome and are planning out days of exploring all that the city has to offer, why not pencil in a trip to Teatro Mongiovino to keep the smaller children in the party engaged and happy and as something they will enjoy?
Teatro Mongiovino is located in the Garbatella district, a historic part of the city not far from its core, and was bought by the Accettella Marionette Theater in 1987 and renovated and restored. Using it as a production site and an exhibition space for their large marionette collection, the Accettella Marionette Theater saved a historic puppet and children’s theatre that has been in continuous operation for over 75 years. Set in a lush and pretty garden, this charming Italian-style hall theatre seats up to 224 guests in the stalls and the Marionette Museum located next to the theatre displays over 400 different puppets with all sorts of wonderful designs that have been used in theatrical productions, film, television and more. The very pretty garden space outside is often also used to host different performances and is a wonderful place for such events.
With a wide and varied programme of events throughout the year, the theatre now puts on different kinds of performances involving both their famous puppets and any combination of actors, shadows, music, and videos. Different shows are more suitable to different age groups and all of them are in Italian, as one might imagine, but many of the performances are of stories that are familiar to most children. Such productions of well-known tales, particularly combined with the spectacle, colour, and excitement of the performance itself, can be readily enjoyed by smaller children and understood even if there might be a language barrier. Other events involving more music or performances such as magic shows can be universally understood and savoured without issue. Therefore, if you are travelling with younger kids and have found a vacation rental in Rome, they are likely going to be able to enjoy and get the most out of this wonderful and storied theatre for children. Be sure to check out the schedule of upcoming events to see if any shows sound interesting for you and your kids. Aside from attending performances, the marionette museum is a fascinating record of these objects and is well worth visiting if you have an interest in such things.
So, if you have found a holiday rental in Rome and you’re looking for a cultural activity that the kids might like too then be sure to check out the Teatro Mongiovino’s Facebook page and see if anything interesting is coming up around the time of your trip to Italy’s endlessly fascinating capital that is so rich in things to see and do.
Teatro Mongiovino
Via Giovanni Genocchi 15
+39 06.5131492
mongiovino@accettellateatro.it