A little bit of the past in the present. This is what these museums offer. They are sacred spaces that have carefully housed all the different pieces which have transcended the passage of time and which have enabled us to construct a more detailed picture of Peru’s history.
Each object, from goldsmith's relics, textiles, ceramic pieces, paintings, and funerary bundles, to the majestic buildings themselves, retain an undeniable cultural value that every Peruvian should honor and admire. That's what museums are for.
Lima boasts a range of museums that can be visited from Monday to Sunday, with different opening times. If you are thinking of visiting one, here are some other interesting options which will not disappoint.
National Museum. An impressive cultural landmark located in the district of San Borja. Here, visitors can enjoy a rich variety of historical material, distributed throughout various spaces and rooms. One of these houses a wonderful selection of pre-Hispanic pieces from diverse Peruvian cultures. Likewise, another room houses a range of gold and silverware pieces, also from pre-Columbian times, while another houses a wide collection of traditional Peruvian artifacts and paintings.
Gold museum. Located in Surco, just as its name indicates, this space houses a dazzling selection of all the precious metals that have been found in Peruvian territory. The place was conceived by the economist Miguel Mujica Gallo, a renowned collector who managed to collect an amazing variety of precious pieces, dating back to the Inca dynasty. Some of the most outstanding items can be found in the gold of the Yungas and the gold of the Chimu.
Moreover, the museum boasts a collection of more than 10,000 weapons from around the world.
Lima Art Museum (Mali). Located in the heart of downtown Lima, it is an almost mandatory stop for all art lovers. It is located within the famous Palacio de la Exposición and it houses a range of pre-Columbian and contemporary art. Moreover, you can also find diverse spaces dedicated to photography, colonial art and goldsmithery. The complex, built in the neo-Renaissance style, is a visual jewel and provides visitors with the perfect opportunity to take wonderful pictures of each of its spaces.
National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History of Peru. Also known by its acronym (MNAAHP), it is thought to be the oldest museum in Peru as it was founded in 1822, under the supervision of General Don José de San Martín. "Its importance lies in the valuable cultural heritage it houses, containing approximately 300,000 pieces from our pre-Hispanic, colonial and republican past," the museum details on its website. Among its relics are 17,000 remains, including mummies and skeletons, dating from the so-called Lithic period (13,000 - 7000 BC) to the period of the Incas (1400 - 1532 AD). It houses the largest collection of pre-Hispanic human remains in Peru. To discover this pinnacle of culture, head to the Plaza Bolívar in the district of Pueblo Libre.
From home
On the other hand, if you would rather avoid making the journey, there is another way to check out these spaces through a few simple clicks and from the comfort of your own home. Through its website, the Ministry of Culture has made 22 national museums available for virtual visits.
Just click on this link.
Sources: Red Bus/ El Comercio/ El Peruano/ Turismoi.pe/ National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History of Peru.
