Museo de Arte Popular

Top choice in Ayacucho


Displays popular art covering the ayacucheño (natives of Ayacucho) spectrum – silverwork, rug- and tapestry-weaving, stone and woodcarvings, ceramics (model churches are especially popular) and the famous retablos (ornamental religious dioramas). The latter are colorful wooden boxes varying in size and containing intricate papier-mâché models: Peruvian rural scenes or the nativity are favorites, but interesting ones with political or social commentary can be seen here. Photographs show how Ayacucho changed during the 20th century. Opening hours here change almost as frequently.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ayacucho attractions

1. Plaza de Armas

0.04 MILES

One of the prettiest plazas in the Central Andes, flanked by many gorgeous mansions, including the Prefectura. Ask at the tourist office for details on…

2. Prefectura

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Most of Ayacucho's old mansions are now mainly political offices and can be visited, usually during business hours. These offices of the department of…

3. Templo Compañía de Jesús

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This church has two fine bell towers and, in the body of the structure supporting them, striking embossings and motifs. It sits on the site of its 1605…

5. Cathedral

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This spectacular 17th-century cathedral on the Plaza de Armas has a religious-art museum inside. The moody facade doesn’t quite prepare you for the…

7. Plaza Moré

0.13 MILES

A square of shops and restaurants tucked back from the pedestrian street, with a better quality of establishments than the similar Centro Turístico…

8. Iglesia de La Merced

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This church, built in the mid-16th century, is full of colonial art and has one of Peru’s oldest convents attached, dating from the same period.

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