MUSEO DE ARTE PRECOLOMBINO

Spread over 11 exhibition rooms, the permanent collection of ceramics, sculptures and textiles from various pre-Columbian cultures is striking. The exhibition is well organized both geographically and chronologically. The visit is highly instructive and a good approach to pre-Columbian art in all its diversity. Temporary exhibitions are also on the program. This museum is certainly one of the most interesting in the capital.

Although the museum was inaugurated some 40 years ago, on December 10 1980 to be precise, its history began much earlier, in the person of Chilean architect and philanthropist Sergio Larraín García-Moreno. Over the previous fifty years, he had amassed an impressive collection of pre-Columbian artefacts. In the process, his main selection criteria had been aesthetic rather than anthropological. So, in addition to their inestimable historical value, these objects are particularly beautiful and stand out for their artistic qualities. It was in the 1970s that the Larraín Foundation was created, and eventually entered into a partnership with the municipality of Santiago. Today, the museum continues to operate as a public-private partnership. Visit the website for more information on temporary exhibitions. A highly recommended visit!