Marvel at thousands of artifacts and artworks that illuminate the history of gold and jewels in pre-Columbian Peru.
It is practically impossible to think about the Spanish conquest of South America without one’s mind drifting to the conquistadors’ famous obsession with gold. Visit Lima’s Gold Museum to see a vast collection of ancient gold and silver artefacts and to gain an insight into the pre-European cultures of Peru. A related exhibit on-site shows thousands of weapons from around the world.
The Gold Museum of Lima holds more than 7,000 objects. These are spread out across two separate floors. The museum was built using reinforced concrete to protect its most valuable items and there is also a large vaulted safe on-site which protects the museum’s most valuable objects.
Learn about the metalwork of South America’s pre-colonisation cultures by exploring the broad range of pieces on display. One highlight is the work of the Chimu Culture, a pre-Inca tribe from around the turn of the 10th century. Seek out the Tumi, an ancient ceremonial knife used for a variety of gory rituals.
The Moche people, dated around A.D. 100, are the subject of another fascinating exhibit in the museum. Delve into the culture of this group, looking through displays about nose rings and sandals among other things. Learn about the significance of gold and other metals in this pre-colonisation world.
Head to the Weapons of the World exhibit, which sits alongside the Gold Museum in the site’s official title. Most of the objects on display in this exhibit were donated from the private collection of Peruvian diplomat Miguel Mujica Gallo from the 1960s. Investigate a range of old war uniforms, pieces of armour, and other relics with a military theme, some of which date all the way back to the 13th century.
The Gold Museum of Lima is located southeast of the city, in the Santiago de Surco region. The taxi journey south from Plaza Mayor is around 15 kilometres (9 miles) in length. Taxi fares are relatively cheap in Lima, but it is best to buy a package trip that includes the museum’s entrance fees, a guided tour in English, and a return trip from your hotel. Most hotels should be able to connect you with this service.
