Description of the attraction
The Inca Museum enchants its visitors, which is located in a beautiful colonial mansion of the 16th century northeast of Plaza de Armas. It is the best museum in the city for tourists interested in the Inca cultural heritage.
The stands of the museum, founded in 1948, display restored artifacts of a unique collection of products made of metal, ceramics, wood, textiles, as well as jewelry made of gold and silver, mummies, and musical instruments. In two halls of the museum dedicated to coca (narcotic substance), it is said that coca is a medicinal plant that is still cultivated by the Indian tribes of Moche, Chimu, Pukaras. In the museum, next to each exhibit, there is detailed information. Visitors can also explore the museum with a guided tour in Spanish or English.
The museum building, known as the House of the Admiral, named after its first owner, Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado, was badly damaged during an earthquake in 1650 and was subsequently restored by Pedro Peralta de los Rios by Count Laguna de Chanchakalle, whose coat of arms is depicted over the porch. The mansion is built of cut stone, its massive staircases are decorated with sculptures of mythical creatures. In the courtyard of the museum, descendants of Andean weavers showcase their craftsmanship and sell traditional handmade textiles.
Currently, the museum has more than 9,600 artifacts of the Inca culture, of which just over 600 are displayed in the exhibition halls, but the exposition changes every six months. Seminars are held within the walls of the museum, scientists from the National University of San Antonio Abad de Cuzco conduct research in its laboratories.
