What to do and see in Arequipa Region, Peru: The Best Museums

The gallery “Artes del colca” is a store ubicated in the city of Chivay, half a block from the Main Square of Chivay. In this store you can see Xilography, handmade books and fabrics, jewelry of various artist, you can also find literature, masks, lots of Semi precious stones, t-shirts and magnets. This gallery is compromised with the care of the environment and the protection of animals.

Considered a masterpiece of colonial architecture, this monastery is a large complex of rooms, picturesque plazas, ornate fountains and a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets.

This 17th century convent has been rebuilt several times due to earthquake damage. Now a museum, its rooms contain mummies, masks and souvenirs collected on missionary travels.

This museum’s main attraction is Juanita, whose ritually sacrificed and frozen body was unearthed in a volcanic explosion. This young girl’s miraculously preserved DNA has provided priceless insight into the Inca civilization.

In the heart of Arequipa in the Museum of the Cathedral, valuable pieces of art and culture, which reflect the beauty of its Catholic faith, shine for Peru and the world. Monday to Saturday of 10 – 17 hours, all year.En el Corazón de Arequipa en el Museo de la Catedral, brillan para el Perú y el mundo piezas valiosas de arte y cultura, que reflejan la belleza de su fe católica. Horario: Lunes a sábado de 10 am – 5 pm.

The Santa Teresa y San Jose’s Carmelitas Descalzas’s Monastery, from Arequipa, was founded in 1710, and since then remains in life, hosting a Community of Contemplative Nuns. In its more than 300 years of existence, the Monastery has been treasuring paintings, sculptures, furniture, metalwork, decorative arts, textiles, beautiful murals and objects of daily use from different periods, origins and artistic styles. In 2005, the Community of nuns decided to open a part of the monastery as Museum of Viceregal Art, exhibiting hundreds of objects of its valuable collection in 13 spaces of the old Cloister of the Offices. The Museum is thematic in most of its Exhibition Halls and is also a living museum, since several of the objects and environments are still used as they were more than 3 centuries ago.