NACIONAL MUSEUM

Classified as a National Monument in 1984, this yellow building overlooking the huge steps of Democracy Square has housed collections devoted to Costa Rican civilization since it was refurbished in 1989 (the centenary of Democracy). Founded in 1887, the museum, of which the locals are very proud, was originally a scientific research fund and was not opened to the public until 1930. It wasn't until 1948 that the collection moved into the walls of the former Bellavista barracks built at the turn of the century (bullet holes from the short civil war of 1948 can still be seen on the towers at the rear of the building). The collections, ranging from pre-Columbian sacred art to documents marking the beginning of the First Republic (1821), are extremely rich. Numerous pre-Columbian artefacts from the Guayabo site, pre-Columbian spheres from Osa (one can also be seen in the large ball on Democracy Square), pre-Columbian gold objects and more recent pieces of contemporary history make up the museum's very fine collections. For those who haven't visited one on their travels around the country, you'll pass through a mariposario (butterfly garden) on your way to the museum, which is quite pleasant! If you're not interested in visiting the museum, take a walk around 6pm, before sunset. The yellow building then becomes flamboyant, and if, by chance, it's raining and the sky is still black with clouds, the show becomes grandiose.