10 Museums in Lima Region That You Shouldn't Miss

MUSEO LARCO OPENS FROM 9AM TO 10PM, DAILY. The Museo Larco is housed in an exquisite 18th century vice-royal mansion, built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid and surrounded by beautiful gardens. The museum’s galleries exhibit the finest and most magnificent gold and jewelry treasures from Ancient Peru and the renowned erotic collection, one of Peru’s most celebrated attractions. Founded in 1926 and located in Lima, the Museo Larco holds the largest and most important archaeological collection of Ancient Peru in the world. Peru is known worldwide thanks to the legendary Inca Empire on the Andes Mountains; however few are aware that this society existed only for the last 100 years before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. The Museo Larco portrays to the visitor an engaging narrative, recounting 5000 years in the development of Peru’s pre-Columbian history; thus becoming the ideal means to understand and enjoy Ancient Peru. On the Museum’s terraces overlooking its vibrant and stunning gardens, find Museo Larco´s Café restaurant, where one can savour the best of Peruvian and International cuisine.All in all, it’s accurate to say that to become fascinated by Peruvian history, the journey begins at Museo Larco!

El Museo Bolivariano se encuentra en el Distrito de Pativilca a 100 mts de la Plaza de Armas, en la Provincia de Barranca, 193 km al norte de la ciudad de Lima, se puede llegar desde la Plaza a pie o en auto.

This church and monastery of St. Francis (circa 1674) is known for its catacombs that contain the remains of more than 70,000 people and a magnificent library that houses thousands of antique texts.

This museum features the private collection of Mr. Yoshitaro Amano, which contains selected pieces of ceramics and textiles, arranged chronologically to illustrate the development of weaving throughout Peru's pre-Columbian cultures, featuring special items from the Chancay culture.

Temporarily closed The extensive archaeological collection in this museum includes more than 100,000 items from pre-Hispanic cultures including ceramics, metals, funeral offerings and carved stone figures.

This museum maintains an extensive private collection of colonial art featuring paintings, sculptures, silverware and furniture from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.

The MALI’s permanent collection preserves more than 18,000 pieces –among textiles, ceramics, metal work, photography, drawings and paintings– that witness to more than 3,000 years of art history in Peru. The museum exhibits the artworks in the permanent galleries in a sequential way divided in four sections: pre-Columbian, Colonial, Republican and Modern art. It also has galleries for temporary exhibitions of national and international artists. MALI is located in the heart of downtown Lima and provides the opportunity for a first approach to Peru, through its great master pieces.

Temporarily Closed

It is the first Peruvian mineral´s museum that houses an outstanding collection of minerals, demonstrating their exquisite beauty,complexity and witness to the mining wealth of Peru. It also has significant exhibits of ceramic art from the Chancay culture (900-1400) as well as textiles from before 1532 and paintings from vice-regal times.

Museo MATE houses a permanent collection of work by renowned photographer Mario Testino, in a restored 19th Century republican mansion, located in the heart of Barranco. A non-profit institution, the museum also showcases temporary exhibitions of local and international artists from a variety of disciplines; and offers dynamic artistic, cultural and educational programs.