The Pre-Columbian Art Museum (MAP) offers a unique experience, allowing visitors to travel back three thousand years and connect with the mythical creative spirit of the men and women who laid the foundations for the Inca Empire.
It was born from an initiative by the BBVA Foundation in Peru and the Larco Museum of Lima to house and display objects created by ancient Peruvians. This space is dedicated to celebrating the ancient Andean cultures that thrived long before the rise of the Inca Empire, focusing on pre-Columbian art and honoring the artistic, symbolic, and cultural richness of these civilizations that lived in the region thousands of years before the arrival of the Spanish.
A Unique Museum in Cusco: Pre-Columbian Art and Its Legacy
This museum features an impressive collection of ceramics, gold pieces, and jewelry from ancient Peruvian cultures. Through its ten exhibition rooms, visitors can explore 3,000 years of archaeological splendor, including a famous and unique selection dedicated to eroticism in ancient Peru.
The pieces on display are part of the collection from the Larco Museum in Lima. The galleries showcase emblematic works from Peru’s pre-Columbian cultures, alongside the materials used in their creation and the natural elements employed for religious, political, and cultural purposes.
In the various rooms, visitors can observe pre-Columbian objects—mostly with ritual functions—made of stone, clay, wood, seashells, and metals.
Some of these works were created centuries before the concept of art even existed, as we understand it today.
History of the Pre-Columbian Art Museum
In Inca times, this space was known as “Amaru Cata,” a school or house of knowledge in the city. Visitors can still see the original walls of this institution in the entrance hall. In the 17th century, the house became the property of Don Luis Jerónimo de Cabrera, who was Mayor of the City Council, Justice, and Governor of Cusco in 1649. The coat of arms now decorating the façade belongs to the Cabrera family, hence the current name “Casa Cabrera.”
In 1981, Banco Continental acquired the property and restored it to preserve and highlight its original architectural features.
In 2002, BBVA partnered with the Larco Museum of Lima, and in June 2003, the Pre-Columbian Art Museum (MAP) officially opened its doors, contributing significantly to the preservation and exhibition of ancient Peruvian art.
Main Collections and Exhibitions
It presents works of art and is the only museum in Peru exclusively dedicated to highlighting the artistic heritage of pre-Columbian cultures. The museum includes themed galleries, as detailed below:
| MAP GALLERIES | DESCRIPTION |
| The Origins | Features art from Peru’s earliest civilizations, including the Chavín, Virú, and Paracas cultures. |
| Wood | Highlights wooden artifacts used to depict gods and customs, offering insight into ancestral life. |
| Shell | For many cultures, seashells were as valuable as gold. This gallery displays works that amazed both ancient peoples and the Spanish. |
| Silver | This metal, symbolizing nature’s femininity and considered the tears of the moon, was used to craft extraordinary art pieces. |
| Gold | This sacred metal was used to create refined works for the nobility, many of which are on display here. |
| The South | Showcases the artistic styles of the Nasca and Paracas cultures, particularly in painting, ceramics, and textiles. |
| The North | The Mochica culture, one of the most prominent pre-Inca civilizations, left a legacy of ceramic art preserved in this gallery. |
| The Center | Discover the renowned Huari culture through ceramic relics that reveal the richness of this ancient society. |
| Before the Incas | Highlights the Chimú and Chancay art styles, which later influenced Inca art. |
| The Incas | Exhibits ancient Inca techniques in stone and ceramics. |
How to Visit the Pre-Columbian Art Museum
MAP is open every day, making it an ideal option for those who want to explore Cusco’s cultural richness both during the day and at night:
- Monday to Sunday: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Last admission is at 9:30 pm.
The general admission price is affordable, with discounts available for students and children. Here is the pricing chart:
| ADMISSION | PRICE |
| Peruvian General Admission | S/ 10.00 |
| Foreign General Admission | S/ 20.00 |
| Peruvian Students | S/ 5.00 |
| Foreign Students | S/ 10.00 |
| Cusco residents | Free from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
The Pre-Columbian Art Museum is located in the heart of Cusco, at Plazoleta Nazarenas 231, just a few minutes’ walk from the Plaza de Armas.
