Peru is a country with a very rich cultural heritage, part of which can be admired at several museums in Lima. Advanced cultures which emerged before the Inca Empire left awesome artistic textiles, pottery and metal craft. There is also a very interesting legacy of the art developed during the colonial times after the arrival of the Spanish.  Modern and contemporary Peruvian art is also in display.  Private Lima Tours with Sara presents here a list of the top 5 museums in Lima:

1.  MUSEO LARCO

Museo Larco, a privately owned museum is a must visit during your stay in Lima. If you only have time to visit one, make this the one.  Its collection was started by Mr. Rafael Larco in 1925. A very well assembled display in six languages of pre-Inca artifacts gives an insight in the history of ancient Peru.  First of all, the gold and silver collection of pre-Columbian jewelry is amazing. Furthermore, there is a separate gallery with pre-Inca erotic pottery.  In addition, at their warehouse you will still have access to thousands more pieces of pottery which cannot find place at the museum.  Museo Larco is housed in a beautiful colonial mansion which was built over what was a pre-Columbian pyramid. The grounds are lovely with multicolored bougainvilleas and huge ferns.  There is also a very good restaurant.

Visits:   Opens from Monday to Sundays all through the year including holidays, from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Admission fee:  S/. 30.00 (approx.. US$ 10)  50 % discount for students showing their Student ID.

Address:  Avenida Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre  (about 25 minutes by taxi from Miraflores)

Phone:  + 51 461 1312    + 51 461 1835

2.  MUSEO AMANO

Because of its superb collection of pre- Columbian textiles, Museo Amano is perhaps the best museum in the world for lovers of art work in cloth.  This private collection visited by scholars from all over the world was founded by Mr. Yoshitaro Amano.  Mr. Amano, a Japanese gentleman who settled in Peru in 1951, engaged all his life rescuing textiles abandoned by tomb raiders.  He founded the Museum in 1964.  It is a very well curated collection with astoundingly well preserved materials dating back thousands years.

Visits:  Opens from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm  It closes on 24-25 December, 1 January, 29-30 March

Admission fee:  S/. 30.00 (approx. US$ 10) only in cash.  A simple guided tour costs S/ 30 per group and S/ 50 for a specialized guided tour.  You will have access to drawers which keep some more special art gems.

Address:  Calle Retiro 160, Miraflores       Phone: + 51 441 2909

3.  MALI MUSEO DE ARTE DE LIMA

It holds the most comprehensive collection of 3000 years of Peruvian art.  MALI encompasses pre-Columbian, Colonial and Republican art in the following galleries:  Pre-Columbian pottery, Pre-Columbian textiles, Colonial paintings, Art in Silver, XIX century´s paintings, XX century´s art, Contemporary art and Photography.  The museum is housed at the neo-renaissance styled Palacio de la Exposición. Especially relevant is the fact that this house built in 1872 housed that year´s International Exhibition Fair of Lima.

Admission fee:  S/. 30.00 /approx. US$ 10)   Students  S/. 15

Visits:  From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm  Saturdays until 5:00 pm First Friday of each month until 10:00 pm.  Closed on Mondays, May 1, Christmas and New Year

Address:  Paseo Colón 125, Lima      Phone +51  204 0000

4.  MUSEO PEDRO DE OSMA

Another private museum is this one started by Mr. Pedro de Osma in the first decades of last century holds a thorough collection of colonial art. Several galleries exhibit paintings and sculptures of viceregal art between the XVI and XVIII centuries.  Other galleries show unique pieces of colonial and republican furniture.  A very attractive pavilion holds a magnificent collection of silver artifacts such as relics, jewelry and silver ware.  The Museum functions in the Osma´s family house, a French styled mansion built in 1906. Because of the historical importance of this house, the Peruvian government declared it a National Monument in 1980.

Visits:  From Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Admission fee:   S/. 20.00 (approx. US$ 6)  You can buy instead a ticket for S/. 24.00 which gives you the right to visit also the MATE Museo Mario Testino, next to Museo de Osma.  The price include guided tours in Osma at the following hours: 10:30 am – 11:45 am – 1:00 pm (not on Sundays) – 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm.

Address:  Av. Pedro de Osma 421, Barranco     Phone: +51   467 0063

5.  MATE MUSEO MARIO TESTINO

In 2012, famous awarded Peruvian photographer, Mario Testino, opened MATE. It functions in an old renovated  house originally built in 1898 in Barranco.  Here you will have chance to appreciate the art of photography at its best. An exhibition of iconic portraits of Princess Diana, Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Giselle Bundchen and other stars and models. It is a must for lovers of photography and contemporary art.

Visits:  From Tuesday to Sunday  10:00 am  to 7:00 pm  It closes on Mondays, Easter, May 1st, Christmas and New Year.

Admission fee:  S/ 10.00 (approx. US$ 3)

Address:  Av.  Pedro de Osma 409, Barranco     Phone + 51  200 5400

Finally, for your stay in Lima,  Private Lima Tours with Sara reminds you to check our Private Full Day Tours.