Arequipa: 10 Must-See Museums

A journey from the dawn of Andean civilisations to the diverse expressions of contemporary art, where you’ll explore the historical, social, and cultural processes that have unfolded over thousands of years in southern Peru.

This is the itinerary awaiting you in the galleries of Arequipa’s top museums, where archaeology and art, information and social sciences blend to create spaces that inspire, educate, and offer insights into the past while helping you understand the present.

If you want to experience an intense archaeological, artistic, and cultural adventure in the “White City,” follow the route of the 10 must-see museums. You’ll find that each step will lead you to a historical moment that deepens your understanding of Arequipa and the essence of Peru.

1. Andean Sanctuaries Museum (MUSA)

The Ampato volcano harboured the mummified body of a teenage girl for centuries in its frozen slopes. According to research, she was sacrificed during the Inca period in a ritual ceremony honouring the god Viracocha.

Juanita, the girl from Ampato, was discovered in 1995 by archaeologist Johan Reinhard and Arequipa mountaineer Miguel Zárate, as part of the Southern Andean High-altitude Sanctuaries project by the Universidad Católica Santa María de Arequipa.

The various archaeological pieces found during the project — including the famous Ampato girl — are displayed in the galleries of the Andean Sanctuaries Museum (Musa).

Address: Calle La Merced #110, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00; Sundays from 9:00 am to 14:00.

Admission: Adults 25 soles (foreigners) and 5 soles (Peruvian tourists).

2. José María Morante Archaeological Museum

A grand Republican-era mansion houses the extensive archaeological collection of the National University of San Agustín (UNSA). Due to its importance and variety, it serves as a key reference for understanding the historical process of Arequipa and southern Peru.

Within the museum’s rooms—constructed in the latter half of the 19th century—over 11,000 pieces are on display. These range from simple tools and household items to textiles, mummies, weapons, and furniture of great archaeological and cultural significance.

Address: Calle Álvarez Thomas #200, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:30.

Admission: Adults 5 soles, university students 2 soles, school students 1 sol.

3. Municipal Historical Museum

From pre-Hispanic times to the Republican era, this is the journey you’ll follow through the ten rooms of this museum, housed in the majestic San Francisco architectural complex.

Each room in the museum is dedicated to a specific aspect of local history. Step by step, you’ll explore pre-Hispanic civilizations and colonial Arequipa, feel the revolutionary winds of the emancipation process, and experience the ups and downs of the Republican period.

A gallery featuring portraits of notable Arequipeños and a valuable art collection will enhance your visit to the Guillermo Zegarra Meneses Municipal Historical Museum.

Address: Calle San Francisco #407, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00; Sunday from 9:00 to 15:00.

Admission: Adults 10 soles (foreigners) and 5 soles (national tourists).

4: Santa Teresa Viceroyal Art Museum

In the cloisters of a colonial monastery renowned for its beautiful architecture, you’ll find a diverse collection of viceroyal sacred art that reveals the artistic sensibility and religiosity of Arequipa’s society during a pivotal period in the country’s history.

The religious art collection of the Carmelite Monastery of San José, known as Santa Teresa, includes paintings, sculptures, textiles, silverwork, furniture, and other decorative objects, crafted from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

The exhibit showcases the predominant aesthetic of the viceroyalty of Peru. The museum offers guided tours, temporary exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and various other cultural activities.

Address: Calle Melgar #303, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00.

Admission: Adults 20 soles, university students 6 soles, seniors 10 soles, school students 3.50 soles.

5. Arequipa Cathedral Museum

Built between 1540 and 1656, the majestic Cathedral Basilica stands as a testament to the faith of the people of Arequipa and a bastion of colonial Peruvian religious art.

The Cathedral, notable for its facade with 70 columns and two Renaissance towers, houses religious paintings, wooden sculptures of the twelve apostles, precious stones, jewellery crafted by Francisco de Moratilla, and a Loret organ.

Manufactured in Belgium, the organ stands 12 metres tall and consists of 1,206 pipes, making it one of the most valuable pieces in the cathedral museum.

Address: Lateral portal of Calle Santa Catalina, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:15.

Admission: Adults 10 soles, with an additional 5 soles for a guided tour.

6. San Francisco de Asís Convent Museum

The origins of the San Francisco de Asís Convent Museum trace back to the construction of the colonial church and convent of the Franciscan Order, a monumental project that spanned from 1595 to 1698, though it was officially inaugurated in 1672.

Due to the architectural significance and historical value of the convent, your cultural and tourist experience begins even before you enter. Inside, you’ll explore the main cloister, the chapter room, the Dunas room, the Escoto, and the art collection dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

During your visit, you’ll see altarpieces, paintings, sculptures, furniture, and various religious ornaments, as well as a bibliographic collection exceeding 25,000 volumes, including the first dictionary published by the Royal Spanish Academy.

Your visit to the San Francisco Convent and Museum will be incomplete if you don’t explore the intricate underground passages of the catacombs, where you can view the skeletal remains of Arequipa’s former inhabitants.

Address: Calle Zela #103, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00.

Admission: Adults 10 soles, students 5 soles, children 3 soles.

7. Santa Catalina Monastery Museum

Religious art and various everyday objects used by the cloistered nuns who lived in the convent during the colonial period are displayed at the Santa Catalina Monastery and Museum, one of the architectural gems of Arequipa’s Historic Centre.

The museum’s rooms are located within the cloisters of the renowned convent, which still houses a group of nuns today. They have no direct contact with the outside world but remain there, praying, working, and leading a life removed from the temptations of modern life.

While at the convent and museum, pay special attention to the art gallery. Its collection of over 400 religious paintings are genuine masterpieces that showcase the different schools, techniques, and pictorial styles used during the colonial period.

Address: Calle Santa Catalina #301, Cercado de Arequipa.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00. Night tours are available on Tuesdays from 17:30 to 19:30.

Admission: Adults 45 soles (both foreigners and nationals).

8. La Recoleta Convent Museum

In the 17th-century cloisters of this Franciscan convent, you’ll find archaeological pieces from the Moche, Chimú, and Inca cultures, as well as ethnographic information and various objects from Amazonian communities.

These collections are complemented by outstanding examples of colonial religious art. You’ll also be intrigued by the room featuring antique toys and the library, which houses over 20,000 books and old maps, including one dated 1494.

The convent’s architecture will impress you with its Gothic and Romanesque lines. Make sure to take the opportunity to climb the bell tower for an unparalleled view of the Misti volcano.

Address: Calle La Recoleta #117, a five-minute taxi ride from the Plaza de Armas.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:30 and from 15:00 to 17:00.

Admission: Adults 20 soles.

9. Central Reserve Bank Museum (Mucem)

Archaeology, colonial art, paintings by renowned national artists, and the evolution of currency in Peru are the main collections you’ll find in the rooms of the Central Reserve Bank Museum (Mucem), part of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru’s (BCR) Museum Network.

Opened in 2007, the museum expanded its exhibition space in 2016 with the addition of new galleries. The museum is housed in the beautiful Goyoneche and Bustamante mansions, located in the Historic Centre of the city.

Address: Calle La Merced #205.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:15 to 17:00.

Admission: Free.

10: Contemporary Art Museum (MAC Arequipa)

The MAC is a window into the world of contemporary art, showcasing art of today. More than just a museum, MAC serves as a meeting space where national and international creators converge through various artistic disciplines.

MAC’s vision is to extend its reach beyond the physical boundaries of its facilities through a virtual platform. The goal is to create new spaces and opportunities to appreciate and promote contemporary art in the region.

Address: Alameda San Lázaro, Cercado, Arequipa.

Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 to 17:30.

Admission: Adults S/ 12, Children S/ 6.

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