Description of the attraction
The Pre-Columbian Archeology Museum of Raphael Larco Herrer, founded in 1926, is housed in a former 18th century royal mansion built on the foundations of a 7th century pyramid surrounded by a blossoming garden. The museum houses one of the richest collections of gold and silver products, a collection of metal products, ceramics and textiles of Ancient Peru, and the famous archaeological erotic collection.
The Museum of Pre-Columbian Archeology is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can enter the storage area of its 45,000 archaeological exhibits, all cataloged and classified by theme and time. In the thematic halls of the museum, you can view a carefully planned exhibition of ceramics, learn about the stages of their manufacture in pre-Columbian times, see tools, types of kaolin used to make and decorate color vases, tools and molds, unfired ceramics found in graves.
In the Great Culture Hall, visitors can get a complete picture of the culture of the tribes that existed in pre-Columbian Peru from 7000 BC to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. This hall is divided into four areas: North Coast, Center, South, and Mountainous Region.
The Erotic Gallery exhibits archaeological objects prepared by Raphael Larco Hoyle in the 1960s while exploring sexual representations in Peruvian pre-Columbian art. Renovated in November 2002, this erotic ceramics exhibition is presented with commentary.
In the hall "Gold and Jewelry" exhibits are presented - attributes of the leaders and rulers of the Incas that accompanied them during their lifetime and were buried along with the bodies. Jewelry was made not only of gold and silver, but also with semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, quartz and amethyst. On the exhibition stands you can see earrings, nose ornaments, breast ornaments, head ornaments, ritual vases, masks, containers and miniature objects confirming the high artistic skill of ancient jewelers.
And a good way to end your visit to one of the best museums in Lima is to enjoy a drink or a delicious meal at the museum restaurant.
