Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

Ethnographic museum · Monserrat ·

Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

Ethnographic museum · Monserrat ·

Exquisite pottery, textiles, and wooden sculptures from ancient cultures

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Bandera 361, 8320298 Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile Get directions

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

"For Lovers of Art & History Just off the iconic Plaza de Armas, the main square, housed in the old customs building, is the Museum of Pre-Columbian art. The museum has a solid collection of Latin American art and history and an extensive collection of ceramics and pottery. The building itself is a historic monument and testament to the colonial area with sunny interior patios and lovely arcades. To bring the museum to life, sign up for a free guided tour with a docent to see the best works, including an impressive collection of Mapuche "chemamulles," wooden statues thought to be guardians. Bandera 361, corner Compañía de Jesús Phone: 56 (2) 2928 1500"

El Centro: Santiago's Historic Heart

Photo by Wandering Trader

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

Zemin H.

Google

This is the best place to learn and understand Chilean history and roots of their culture. Most artifacts are made of clay, some of them are very beautiful and artistic even like modern artifacts. It's interesting to learn that they have warrior level as social status at some point in the history.

Marina Morena A.

Google

The museum is perfect and well worth visiting. The pieces are very well preserved, and the setting is beautiful. It’s worth spending a good amount of time reading the explanations and exploring the collection. I loved it!

Howard Z.

Google

A interesting museum with excellent display of artifacts. Most displays are pots, figures for warships, etc. Even though those items are excellent, the amount of collections is on low side and the area of dispy rooms are not big comparing to others museums on similar levels.

Tamara Cortes S.

Google

This is a small but meaningful museum that deserves a visit. That said, the translation could be improved. From the standpoint of a bilingual Chilean familiar with both local and global historical contexts, the translation would benefit from greater accuracy and cultural sensitivity.

Lina B

Google

It’s a must visit place in Santiago! The place itself it’s very well designed, exhibition wise very good organised. It gives you not only some background on Chilean but also South America’s culture and identity.

Google

Extensive collection. Marvelous collection of tapestries and woven garments of incredible quality and antiquity. Other significant antiquities well displayed with English on one side of the case and Spanish on the other. Good overlay of different civilizations from South American to Meso American. Lighting is often dim.

Dawn M.

Google

A great museum and worth the visit. It is set up well and is not too big or too small. There are some great artifacts. I enjoyed the Chile before Chile section immensely. Wonderful textiles. Some beautiful wooden sculptures. I also enjoyed the modern exhibit that was modern art influenced by the culture past. Worth the visit.

Kate S

Google

Fantastic museum. Not too big. Has explanations in English. Start in basement. Need to pay to put backpack in locker so have change. Bring your reading glasses if you have trouble reading small print. The basement exhibit is pretty dark!

Marilu F.

Yelp

Often recommended as a pit stop while in Chile, we stopped by this museum and found at least one floor of it closed. Not to mention, too, that the gift shop was closed. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience, because although artifacts were limited, the ones presented proved to be well preserved and depicting a time in history not often discussed. At this museum, you will find pieces from before the Precolombino times, and these, of course, include things from the Inka and things pertaining to Easter Island. It's a nice little pit stop, but please don't expect to make a day out of it. I think we were there over an hour tops.

Leo Y.

Yelp

It's truly amazing how advanced and impressive the Latin American civilization was before the arrival of Europeans decimated it. The ceramics, metallurgy, art, and society were at times more advanced than the Europeans who attacked them. The museum was well laid out, with information in Spanish, and then a brief summary in English. I translated some of the Spanish descriptions using Google Translate when I wanted more details than the English summary provided. It's easy to spend a few hours here if reading everything. A great collection from across south and central America.

Steve A.

Yelp

This was my favorite part of my Chilean trip. So glad I was able to make time to go. They have three floors of exhibits. One was closed when I arrived but they only charged $5.000 (right now about $6) instead of the usual $8.000, which is unusual for museums. You will see things you can't see anywhere else. There aren't all THAT many artifacts but when you see how well preserved they are and think about how much has been lost or destroyed, it's so great to see this all in one place and I absolutely want them to have my money (and yours) to keep these and more preserved!

Des S.

Yelp

What a beautifully curated museum! It's beautiful art and displays make it a delight! The cafe is really nice too! Generous portions and fresh food.

George E.

Yelp

Only two floors but a top notch museum with fantastic, well thought out displays. The entry level has an interior courtyard cafe serving lunch and a museum store with a bit more than your average souvenir offerings. Besides pre-columbian replica pottery and vessels, they offer textiles, books and contemporary wares by Chilean artists.

Alex D.

Yelp

The well-endowed collection of artifacts of the region's indigenous peoples, much of it donated by the collector Sergio Larraín García-Moreno, is displayed in the beautifully restored Royal Customs House that dates from 1807. The permanent collection, on the upper floor, showcases ceramics and textiles from Mexico to Patagonia. Unlike many of the city's museums, the displays here are well labeled in Spanish and English. Guided tours in English are available at no extra cost, but booking in advance is required. Located in Bandera Street 361 (Plaza de Armas Subway, Green Line); Opening from Tuestady through Sunday - 10 AM to 6 PM.

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

El Centro: Santiago's Historic Heart

Photo by Wandering Trader

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

Zemin H.

Google

Marina Morena A.

Google

Howard Z.

Google

Tamara Cortes S.

Google

Lina B

Google

Dawn M.

Google

Kate S

Google

Marilu F.

Yelp

Leo Y.

Yelp

Steve A.

Yelp

Des S.

Yelp

What a beautifully curated museum! It's beautiful art and displays make it a delight! The cafe is really nice too! Generous portions and fresh food.

George E.

Yelp

Alex D.

Yelp

Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

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