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Cusco Essentials |
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Nearby attractions |
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Adventure Activities |
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Jungle Trips |
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Cultural Activities |
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Other Information |
Cusco Attractions (continued)
Inka Museum (Museo Inka)
Corner of Tucaman and Ataud, up the street to the left of the Cathedral, S/.10 entrance fee (about US$4), open Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat 09:00-16:00
The Museo Inka run by the San Antonio Abad
University is the best museum in Cusco for those interested in Inca history.
The museum is housed in the ornate 16th Century Admiral's House. This grand
colonial mansion first belonged to Admiral Francisco Aldrete
Maldonado and was built, like much of Cusco, on Inca foundations. It was
completely rebuilt after the 1950 earthquake.
The museum's collection is well displayed and informative and includes the
culture in the region from pre-Inca, through Inca times to the present day. The
collection includes ceramics, textiles, metal and gold work, jewellery, skulls
that have been deformed by trepanning, and tomb containing several mummies. An
English-speaking guide is a good investment. During the high season local
weavers from the
Centro de Textiles Tradicionales de Cusco can be seen working in the
courtyard. Prices are quite expensive but the quality is high.
Museo de Arte Precolombino (Pre-Colombian Art Museum)
Northwest side of the Plaza de las Nazarenas, open daily 09:00-22:00, General admission S/.20, Students S/.10
This beautiful museum, set around a spacious
courtyard, was opened in 2003 and contains a collection of more than 450
artefacts which were taken from the storage rooms of the Museo Rafael Larco
Herrera
in Lima. On display are jewellery, pottery, metalwork (gold and silver),
stone-carvings and weavings from
the Pre-Colombian cultures (before Columbus arrived) including the Nasca, Moche, Chimú,
Paracas, Nasca and Inca cultures. Pieces
are well chosen and well displayed.
The building which houses the Museo de Arte Precolombino was formerly the
mansion of the conqueror Alonso Díaz and later the residence of the Earl of
Cabrera. The structure was built on the ruins of an Inca ceremonial court. The
museum has a cafe and a good but expensive restaurant.
Official museum website: http://map.perucultural.org.pe/home_en.html
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| Museo de Arte Precolombino | Exhibition - Chancay / Chimu Gallery | MAP Cafe in the museum courtyard |
Monasterio y Museo de Arte de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina Convent and Art
Museum)
Santa Catalina Angosta, Sat-Thurs 09:00-17:30, Fri 09:00-15:00
The Santa Catalina Convent and Museum (Monasterio y Museo de Arte de Santa Catalina) was built over the ruins of the ancient Acllawasi, or "House of the Chosen Women" one of the most important Inca buildings overlooking the main plaza. These "Virgins of the Sun" as the Spanish called them, were devoted to the cult of the Sun God and wove exquisite textiles of vicuña and alpaca for the Inca and ceremonial purposes as well as preparing the sacred chicha beer. Many were chosen to bear the Inca's children. After the Conquest the Acllawasi became home to a cloistered order of nuns who still occupy part of the building today.
Lucia Isabel Rivera de Padilla founded the Santa Catalina Convent in 1601. She also founded the beautiful convent of the same name in Arequipa several years earlier. The Santa Catalina convent was named after Saint Catherine of Siena, who was the founder of the female part of the Dominican Order.
Today the convent houses a religious art collection, including paintings from the famous Escuela Cusqueña.
Museo de Historia Regional (Regional History Museum)
Casa Garcilaso, Corner of Calle Garcilaso and Heladeros, Mon-Sat 08:00-17:00
Museo de Historia Natural (Natural History Museum)
Plaza de Armas (the the right of the La Compania de Jesus church) Mon-Fri 09:30-12:00, 15:00-18:00
Eclectic collection of badly stuffed animals, not very informative but worth a visit if only to see a two-headed alpaca, a two-headed guinea pig or the six-legged goat!! Strange but interesting.
Museo de Arte Religioso (Archbishop's Palace / Religious Art Museum)
Corner of Hatun Rumiyoc and Herrajes. Mon-Sat 08:30-11:30, 15:00-17:30
Built on the foundations of the palace of the Inca Roca, this remarkable building once belonged to the Marquis de Buenavista and later became the Archbishop's Palace. The museum has a fine collection of colonial paintings and furniture.
Next >> Sacsayhuaman and other nearby Inca ruins
