“To gather the rich and diverse cultures of the nation through a great research institute” was the motto when, on March 14, 1888, it was decided to found the National Museum. The Museum of the Nation is one of the largest archaeological museums in Lima.
It is located in the district of San Borja, appropriately, shares its construction with the Ministry of Culture. The museum has a rich history of closures, renovations and reopenings.
Because it is not easy to finance such an institution and do justice to all functions: collection and exhibition, exploration and restoration. Since the museum reopened its doors, it has become a popular destination for visitors to Lima. Come and discover for yourself the treasures that the cultures of Peru have produced for millennia.
History of the colonization of Peru
In what period are the beginnings of a nation and when does it end? In Peru, which has experienced so many cultural changes, this question is not too easy to answer. Peru as a state only existed since the Declaration of Independence in 1821. Before that, the country, after the conquest of the Spanish, was a viceroyalty of Spain.
The cultures that lived before the Spanish are also called prehispanic cultures, including the Incas and the so-called pre-Inca cultures such as the Paracas, Nazca or Moche. The objective of uniting the cultures of the nation in one place, in this case, is to gather, study and preserve the testimonies of the entire human settlement of Peru.
The exhibition of the Museo de la Nación
The number of works that the museum has is impressive: it says 12,000 objects from the pre-Hispanic era, as well as 2500 works of art from the colonial and republican period. The smallest part is contemporary works of art.
Considering that there are hundreds of museums in Peru that exhibit a number of works of ancient civilizations that sometimes number in the thousands, first it is clear how many artisan and artistic products were created during that time, but also what great value for humanity today.
In some cases, they were difficult to achieve: the illicit trade in previous works makes it difficult for museums to assemble the credentials of their country in the place where they belong. The collection of the Museum of the Nation is known for the ceramics of the Moche, Nazca and Wari.
It is also worth seeing the tools decorated with bone, various textiles and, of course, the masks and religious objects made of gold and silver. Among the works of the colonial era, the paintings of the Cuzco school stand out. They show how, after the arrival of the Spaniards, the local traditions were fused with the styles of art imported from Europe, creating a completely new aesthetic. The photographs show life in Peru in more recent times. The changing exhibitions on various subjects complement the museum’s collection.
Museo de la Nación
Address:
Av. Javier Prado Este 2465, San Borja
Opening Hour:
Mo. – So. 09:00 – 17:00 – Webseite
