Zela house, Historical museum in Tacna, Peru
The Zela House is a colonial-style building on block 5 of Calle Zela in central Tacna. Its cornice and facade are made entirely of cut stone, and it has three wide gates. Inside, two large halls flank a central entryway leading to a first patio with the main hall, then a second patio and service rooms.
The building played an important role in 1811 when a rebellion for independence took place here, with Francisco Antonio de Zela driving the first proclamation of independence in Peru. This event made Tacna an early center of resistance against Spanish rule.
The house bears the name of Francisco Antonio de Zela, who lived here and led the 1811 Tacna rebellion. Its rooms now form the Salón Museo Arqueológico, displaying pre-Hispanic ceramic and textile pieces, wood and metal work, and fishing and basket-weaving tools.
The museum sits at the corner of San Martín Avenue and block 5 of Calle Zela, in Tacna's historic centre, and is reached on foot from the Plaza de Armas. The entrance is through one of the three stone portones on Calle Zela. The building is administered by the Provincial Municipality of Tacna, so confirm access locally before setting out.
The house was a private residence for a long time before being converted into a museum, making its archaeological collection available to the public. This transformation allowed regional finds to be preserved in a place tied to local history.
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