The 7 best museums and galleries in Lima: from ancient erotic art to recent history
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Loading... - Laura McLean
- 21 Apr 2022
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The capital city of Peru is immensely colorful despite its nickname Lima la gris (Lima the gray), as you will come to find after visiting any of the numerous galleries and museums. From erotic pre-Columbian ceramics to urban art with a social purpose, be sure to include a visit to these museums, Lima's very best, on your next trip to Peru.
Expect to blush at Museo Larco's pieces of ancient erotic pottery
Surrounded by a lush garden, Museo Larco rests in a beautifully restored 18th-century house in the old-school Lima neighborhood of Pueblo Libre. Founded in 1926 by Rafael Larco, a pioneer of Peruvian archaeology, visitors can walk among some 30,000 cataloged ancient pottery artifacts.
But let’s be honest: we're all most curious about the collection of pre-Columbian erotic pottery.
The assemblage of titillating pieces is divided into five sections – female body and maternity; sexual union and fertility; male body and sexual propitiation; the underworld; non-reproductive sexual union. Though you may giggle and even blush, this Museo Larco collection offers a unique glimpse into a common activity not often explored when it comes to ancient Peruvian cultures.
MALI has a wide-ranging art collection
Museo de Art de Lima (MALI) is an all-encompassing museum that showcases the past 3000 years of art in Peru in a permanent collection of over 18,000 pieces. Covering pre-Columbian, Colonial, Republican and Modern eras, MALI is an iconic museum not only for the number of artifacts and artworks but also for its dedication to conservation and restoration.
Colonial furniture, pre-Hispanic textiles and ceramics, and the photographs of Martin Chambi – one of Latin America’s first indigenous photographers and a native of southern Peru’s Puno – are just a few must-see items.
The building itself is an outstanding work of restoration, having originally served as Peru’s National Exhibition in the 19th century. As if the 10,000 sq m (107,639 sq ft) of exhibition space weren’t enough to keep you busy, MALI also houses a library, shop, cafe, and offers courses and workshops.
Get interactive at MAC Lima, the best gallery for contemporary art
An acronym for Museo de Arte Contemporaneo (Museum of Contemporary Art), the glass cube structure of MAC sits pretty at the entrance of Lima’s bohemian neighborhood, Barranco. Having opened in 2013, it is one of the youngest cultural centers on this list yet one of the best museums in Peru thanks to its spacious outdoor area and interactive exhibits.
Emerging Latin American artists as well as international names, such as photographer David LaChapelle, have shown their work at MAC. Visitors will likely tour the three showrooms within an hour, as they are rarely full nor open simultaneously. Luckily, the grassy lawn and on-site cafe make for a relaxing spot to laze away the rest of your afternoon – or perhaps ponder upon your next masterpiece.
The catacombs under Monasterio de San Francisco are the city's eeriest museum
One of the oldest catacombs in South America can be found just a few blocks away from Lima’s main square (Plaza de Armas) in the city’s historic center. Situated beneath the 16th-century Monasterio de San Francisco, an underground network of pathways wind their way through what was once the capital’s only cemetery. With some 25,000 crypts, the Lima catacombs are believed to be the largest on the continent.
Forget any inkling of claustrophobia you may have and take one of the most memorable tours as you learn about the anti-seismic structure, secret passages, and the legend of the monk who still walks the hallways.
Afterward, head back to street level to tour the extensive library inside the San Francisco Convent, internationally renowned for having one of the most complete collections of books. Read More…
