Art Museums in Peru
Peru tends to be more renowned for its natural and historic sites than for its museums, but there are indeed a number of cultural sites that are well worth a visit. Most are in Lima, some are in Cusco, Arequipa, and other larger cities.
The fine arts have always been important to the culture of Peru from the times of the Incas and other ancient peoples to the present. Hence, there are a few top-notch art museums that you may want to visit when you’re in this fascinating South American country, especially if you’re a real art aficionado.
Lima
Lima, by far, has the most notable museums and two of them are fine art venues that deserve a visit.
- Museo de Arte de Lima (Lima Art Museum) – The premiere art museum in Peru and the largest as well, this museum recently reopened after an extensive interior renovation that has resulted in a number of improvements. The building that houses the museum is – in and of itself – a gem. It’s a beautiful 1868 Beaux Arts masterpiece that is certainly to be admired, especially by architecture buffs. Inside, the permanent collection is large and diverse, with more than 7,000 items on exhibit. The galleries provide a good chronological history of the various cultures of Peru, beginning with the Paracas civilization and ending with a number of wonderful pieces of contemporary art of today. Paintings dominate the museum (the 17th and 18th centuries are especially well represented) but there is also an extensive sculpture collection, carved furniture, and some excellent examples of pre-Columbian pottery. Movies are shown nightly (in Spanish) and other special events are frequent.
- Museo de Arte Italiano – Housed in an attractive neo-Classical building, this lovely museum boasts quite a collection from Italy and other European countries including paintings, sculpture, lithographs, and etchings. Also located in the same building is the Instituto de Arte Contemporaneo, which includes a number of excellent pieces of contemporary art, as the name indicates.
- Galeria Lucia de la Puente – This gem is the city’s very prestigious contemporary art gallery featuring works by Peru’s most famed painters of today, including the sometimes-controversial Fernando Gutierrez. Located in the trendy Miraflores neighborhood, it’s a trip well worth the time for modern art lovers.
Cusco
- Museo de Arte Precolombino – Not terribly large but quite diverse, this museum of Pre-Columbian art profiles the artistic achievements of Peru’s various early cultures. Pieces range in date from about 1250 BC to the mid-16th century. Happily, for English speakers, the items are all labeled in Spanish, English, and French, which is unusual in Peru. Look for the exquisite gold and silver work, which is especially intriguing.
- Museo Quijote – This is a small museum with a
private collection of contemporary pieces – mostly painting and
sculpture – that provide an excellent look at today’s art scene in Peru.
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