Description of the attraction
The Colonial Art Museum is a beautiful architectural ensemble with a fountain and arches. It is opposite the picturesque ruins of the cathedral, a few meters from Central Park in the former building of the University of San Carlos de Borromeo (Saint Carl Borromeo).
Earthquakes damaged the structure in 1751 and 1773, but it was reconstructed and used as a school for children, a parish church and an exhibition hall.
The building features a wealth of detail and an intricate roof that is replete with decor, while the interior consists of a series of classrooms set around a central courtyard with four galleries.
The museum was founded as an independent institution in 1936 with the direct support of the United Nations Office for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Affairs. It houses an extensive collection of art from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. In total, about 133 works are exhibited, including sculptures, paintings and furniture. In one of the corridors you can see a curious hearse from colonial times.
