Museo de Arte Precolombino Larco — Attraction in Distrito de Cusco

Tips/infos: The museum’s collections are curated to highlight the aesthetic and cultural significance of pre-Columbian art. Each piece is chosen not only for its historical value but also for its artistic quality, making the museum an art gallery as much as an archaeological exhibit. It requires us 1 hour 15 to do it It doesn’t overlap with “Inka Museum”. Even if some information overlaps the “Larco Museum” within Lima, it’s explained in a different way and you will find object with other drawings, so if you are really interested into Pre-Colombian art, it’s worth making both. Most of objects are well explained in Spanish, English and French

Very very good museum within Cusco.

The Museo de Arte Precolombino in Peru offers a unique glimpse into the artistic and cultural achievements of ancient Peruvian civilizations. Its carefully curated collections, housed in a historically significant building, provide an enriching experience for anyone interested in the rich pre-Columbian heritage of Peru. Key pieces like Moche ceramics, gold and silver artifacts, and intricate textiles make it a must-visit for understanding the depth and beauty of ancient Andean art.

Key Pieces:

Ceramics from Moche Civilization: The Moche were master ceramicists, and their detailed portrait vessels are among the museum’s highlights. These ceramics provide insight into Moche society, depicting scenes of daily life, mythology, and portraits of individuals. Gold and Silver Artifacts: The museum boasts a collection of exquisite gold and silver items, including jewelry, ceremonial objects, and adornments. These pieces illustrate the advanced metallurgical skills of pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Moche, Chimu, and Inca. Textiles: The textile collection is a testament to the complex weaving techniques and vibrant patterns used by ancient Andean cultures. Textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures, known for their intricate designs and vibrant colors, are particularly noteworthy. Sculptures and Stone Carvings: The museum also features impressive stone carvings and sculptures from various cultures, including the Chavín and Wari. These pieces often have religious or ceremonial significance and showcase the skill of ancient stoneworkers. Inca Artifacts: As Cusco was the heart of the Inca Empire, the museum has a rich collection of Inca artifacts, including ceremonial vessels, figurines, and tools that provide insight into the empire’s sophisticated society and...

As a ceramic artist, I found this museum to be incredibly curated, and overall a wonderful insight on how different communities in Peru expressed their ideas and identity building through art. The museum focuses on three main components of indigenous ideology, the things represented by and associated with the sky, underground, and in between, earth. The story telling mostly follows this narrative along with the duality of life. These are the strings that tie together the art in the museum, along with geopolitical explanations that relate to allyship and military strategy.

The mediums on display are materials that can face the test of time - gold, silver, petrified wood, stone, and ceramic. Aside from a small section upstairs, you won’t find any paintings or textiles. The craftsmanship is really admirable, something even contemporary artists struggle with using the same mediums and current technology. I would say it is the best museum I have visited in Cusco, definitely worth it if you like this type of art...

While not included in the Boleto Turistico, this should be on everyone’s list of places to see. It is a more traditional museum in that artifacts are well-displayed in tailored spaces accompanied by explanatory texts. The museum is centrally located just a few minutes walking from Plaza de Armas. The building itself is gorgeous with an inner courtyard, and viewing galleries on two floors. S/20 for adults and the museum is open late.

We really enjoyed seeing the diversity of styles/objects used by Precolombian Peoples and also gain a better understanding of how certain animals were perceived. We also learned about how Andean societies, from their origins to the Incas, saw the world...in fact, the 3 worlds: Hanan Pacha, Uku Pacha,...