The city of Cusco has several museums where you can enjoy the art and tradition of the ancient capital of the Incas. One of the most famous is the Museum of Popular Art, which offers a window for the artisans of the region. It is an exhibition of various crafts made by modern and traditional artists. It is located in the historic center of the city. Its entrance is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
Description
The Museum of Popular Art is a small museum that exhibits different types of work by Cusco artisans with a long career, such as: Hilario Mendivil, Antonio Olave, Edilberto Mérida and others. The sculptures, carvings, ceramics, goldsmithing, altarpieces and more stand out. The visit to this museum is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket 2, which also offers visits to other museums and archaeological sites in the city.
Location
The museum is located on El Sol Avenue s/n (first block) in the tourist galleries of Cusco.
How to get there?
You can reach the popular art museum on foot from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. It is also possible to take a taxi from any part of the Historic Center. The way most people get there is on foot.
The museum
The museum consists of several spaces where different types of crafts from the best Cusco artisans are permanently exhibited, such as: Santiago Rojas, Agustín Ibarra, Raymundo Béjar, Hilario Mendivil, Georgina Dueñas, Antonio Olave, Edilberto Mérida, Jesús La Torre, Fabián Palomino, Enrique Sierra, Sara Negrón, Luis Acosta, Gregorio Cachi, Sabino Tupa and others.
The most notable works are: ceramic pieces, textiles, sculptures, photographs, altarpieces and more. There is also a ‘photo library’ space where you can see old images of the city as well as some of the most remembered Cusco artists who achieved national and international fame, such as: Hilario Mendivil, Antonio Olave and Edilberto Mérida. Another specific area of the museum exhibits works by these artists, the greatest representatives of regional crafts.
It is worth mentioning that the pieces are progressively renewed by including the best works from the Christmas fair of ‘Santurantikuy’ (sale of saints). Because of this, the museum is an excellent way to make known the talent of some of the best artists of Cusco.
Cusco crafts
Since the Inca era, the people of Cusco created high-quality pieces in ceramics, goldsmithing and textiles. During the colonial era, knowledge of popular art expanded in the population, where great artists in sculpture, ceramics, goldsmithing and more stood out. A clear example is the so-called ‘Cusco school’ of art, which produced beautiful paintings and sculptures in the colonial period. Most of these works can be found in the main churches of the city.
The 20th century saw the birth of some of the best exponents of Cusco crafts. Examples include Hilario Mendivil (creator of images of elongated necks), Santiago Rojas (creator of dances from the province of Paucartambo), Antonio Olave (creator of little Manuel children), Edilberto Mérida (creator of sculptures of grotesque figures) and others. They and other Cusco artisans were declared masters of national crafts.
Cost of the visit
The visit to the popular art museum is included in the ‘Cusco Tourist Ticket Circuit 2’, which costs 70 Peruvian soles (approximately 22 US dollars). This ticket also allows entry to the contemporary art museum, the regional historical museum, the Coricancha site museum, the Qosqo center of native art, the monument to the Inca Pachacutec, as well as the archaeological sites of Tipón and Piquillacta.
Opening hours
Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Additional information
Interested in crafts? The famous San Blas neighborhood of Cusco is known as the “artisans’ neighborhood” because it is where the workshops left to their families by the city’s most renowned artisans are located: Hilario Mendivil, Antonio Olave, Edilberto Mérida and others.
During your visit to Cusco you will find a large number of crafts. Most are offered to tourists in markets, craft centers and on the streets themselves (squares and parks). Some of the pieces that you will only find in Cusco are the garments made of alpaca fiber, a characteristic auchenid of the Andes.
Tips for the visit
Do not touch the pieces in the museum as you can damage or, in the worst case, destroy them. Take special care if you visit the museum with children. Many of the pieces on display are made of fragile materials.
During your visit to the city of Cusco, don't miss the opportunity to buy handicrafts. The most famous places to buy them are: the Cusco handicraft market, the San Blas neighborhood, the San Pedro market, the Pisac market, the Ollantaytambo handicraft market and the Machu Picchu handicraft market.
Machu Picchu Travel Tours
Reserve our guided trips to Machu Picchu by contacting our travel experts and you will be closer to completing your adventure:
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Best Tours in Cusco
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- 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping
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