{"id":51876,"date":"2024-02-17T19:23:52","date_gmt":"2024-02-18T00:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freewalkingtoursperu.com\/blog\/museos-arequipa\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T15:17:00","slug":"museums-arequipa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freewalkingtoursperu.com\/en\/blog\/museums-arequipa\/","title":{"rendered":"Arequipa: 10 Must-See Museums"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A journey from the dawn of Andean civilisations<\/strong> to the diverse expressions of contemporary art<\/strong>, where you’ll explore the historical, social, and cultural processes that have unfolded over thousands of years in southern Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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<\/strong>. You\u2019ll find that each step will lead you to a historical moment that deepens your understanding of Arequipa and the essence<\/a> of Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Andean Sanctuaries Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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The Ampato volcano harboured the mummified body of a teenage girl<\/strong> for centuries in its frozen slopes. According to research, she was sacrificed during the Inca period in a ritual ceremony honouring the god Viracocha.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juanita, the girl from Ampato<\/a>, was discovered in 1995 by archaeologist Johan Reinhard <\/strong>and Arequipa mountaineer Miguel Z\u00e1rate<\/strong>, as part of the Southern Andean High-altitude Sanctuaries <\/strong>project by the Universidad Cat\u00f3lica Santa Mar\u00eda de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The various archaeological pieces found during the project \u2014 including the famous Ampato girl \u2014 are displayed in the galleries of the Andean Sanctuaries Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address: <\/strong>Calle La Merced #110, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours: <\/strong>Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00; Sundays from 9:00 am to 14:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 25 soles (foreigners) and 5 soles (Peruvian tourists).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Morante Archaeological Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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A grand Republican-era mansion houses the extensive archaeological collection of the National University of San Agust\u00edn<\/strong>. Due to its importance and variety, it serves as a key reference for understanding the historical process of Arequipa<\/strong> and southern Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the museum\u2019s<\/a> rooms\u2014constructed in the latter half of the 19th century\u2014over 11,000 pieces are on display<\/strong>. These range from simple tools and household items to textiles, mummies, weapons, and furniture of great archaeological and cultural significance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address<\/strong>: Calle \u00c1lvarez Thomas #200, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours: <\/strong>Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 5 soles, university students 2 soles, school students 1 sol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Municipal Historical Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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From pre-Hispanic times to the Republican era, this is the journey you\u2019ll follow through the ten rooms of this museum, housed in the majestic San Francisco architectural complex.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each room in the museum is dedicated to a specific aspect of local history. Step by step, you\u2019ll explore pre-Hispanic civilizations<\/strong> and colonial Arequipa, feel the revolutionary winds of the emancipation process, and experience the ups and downs of the Republican period.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A gallery featuring portraits of notable Arequipe\u00f1os<\/strong> and a valuable art collection will enhance your visit to the Guillermo Zegarra Meneses Municipal Historical Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address: <\/strong>Calle San Francisco #407, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00; Sunday from 9:00 to 15:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 10 soles (foreigners) and 5 soles (national tourists).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4: Santa Teresa Viceroyal Art Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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In the cloisters of a colonial monastery renowned for its beautiful architecture, you\u2019ll find a diverse collection of viceroyal sacred art <\/strong>that reveals the artistic sensibility and religiosity of Arequipa\u2019s society<\/strong> during a pivotal period in the country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The religious art collection of the Carmelite Monastery of San Jos\u00e9<\/strong>, known as Santa Teresa, includes paintings, sculptures, textiles, silverwork, furniture, and other decorative objects, crafted from the 16th to the 19th centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibit showcases the predominant aesthetic<\/strong> of the viceroyalty of Peru. The museum<\/a> offers guided tours<\/strong>, temporary exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and various other cultural activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address: <\/strong>Calle Melgar #303, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours: <\/strong>Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 20 soles, university students 6 soles, seniors 10 soles, school students 3.50 soles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Arequipa Cathedral Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Built between 1540 and 1656, the majestic Cathedral Basilica stands as a testament to the faith of the people of Arequipa <\/strong>and a bastion of colonial Peruvian religious art.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Manufactured in Belgium, the organ stands 12 metres tall and consists of 1,206 pipes<\/strong>, making it one of the most valuable pieces in the cathedral museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/strong> Lateral portal of Calle Santa Catalina, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 10 soles, with an additional 5 soles for a guided tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. San Francisco de As\u00eds Convent Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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The origins of the San Francisco de As\u00eds Convent Museum trace back to the construction of the colonial church and convent <\/strong>of the Franciscan Order, a monumental project that spanned from 1595 to 1698, though it was officially inaugurated in 1672.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the architectural significance and historical value of the convent, your cultural and tourist experience begins even before you enter. Inside, you\u2019ll explore the main cloister<\/strong>, the chapter room, the Dunas room, the Escoto, and the art collection dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Your visit to the San Francisco Convent and Museum<\/a> will be incomplete if you don\u2019t explore the intricate underground passages of the catacombs<\/strong>, where you can view the skeletal remains of Arequipa\u2019s former inhabitants.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/strong> Calle Zela #103, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours: <\/strong>Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 10 soles, students 5 soles, children 3 soles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Santa Catalina Monastery Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Religious art and various everyday objects used by the cloistered nuns<\/strong> who lived in the convent during the colonial period are displayed at the Santa Catalina<\/a> Monastery and Museum, one of the architectural gems of Arequipa\u2019s Historic Centre.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The museum’s rooms are located within the cloisters of the renowned convent, which still houses a group of nuns today<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Address: <\/strong>Calle Santa Catalina #301, Cercado de Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00. Night tours are available on Tuesdays<\/a> from 17:30 to 19:30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Adults 45 soles (both foreigners and nationals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. La Recoleta Convent Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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In the 17th-century cloisters of this Franciscan convent, you\u2019ll find archaeological pieces from the Moche, Chim\u00fa, and Inca cultures<\/strong>, as well as ethnographic information and various objects from Amazonian communities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These collections are complemented by outstanding examples of colonial religious art. You\u2019ll also be intrigued by the room featuring antique toys and the library, which houses over 20,000 books <\/strong>and old maps, including one dated 1494.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Address:<\/strong> Calle La Recoleta #117, a five-minute taxi ride from the Plaza de Armas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours: <\/strong>Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:30 and from 15:00 to 17:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission: <\/strong>Adults 20 soles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Central Reserve Bank Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Archaeology, colonial art, paintings by renowned national artists, and the evolution of currency<\/strong> in Peru are the main collections you\u2019ll find in the rooms of the Central Reserve Bank Museum<\/a>, part of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru\u2019s Museum Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>, located in the Historic Centre of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/strong> Calle La Merced #205.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> Monday to Saturday from 9:15 to 17:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission:<\/strong> Free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10: Contemporary Art Museum<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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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<\/strong> where national and international creators converge through various artistic disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAC\u2019s vision is to extend its reach beyond the physical boundaries of its facilities through a virtual platform. The goal is to create new spaces <\/strong>and opportunities to appreciate and promote contemporary art<\/strong> in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/strong> Alameda San L\u00e1zaro, Cercado, Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours: <\/strong>Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 to 17:30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission: <\/strong>Adults S\/ 12, Children S\/ 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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