Museo de la Inquisición y del Congreso, Historical museum in Lima District, Peru
The Museo de la Inquisición y del Congreso is a museum housed in a 16th-century building that features neoclassical and Baroque architectural elements. The structure spans multiple levels and contains exhibits related to both of its historical functions, with original furnishings and objects from each period.
The building served as the seat of the Spanish Inquisition Tribunal from 1570 onwards, playing a role in colonial control during that era. Following Peruvian independence in 1820, it became the meeting place for the nation's first Congress, marking a shift from colonial rule to self-governance.
The building displays original furnishings and architectural details from different periods, showing how the space was used under the Inquisition and later during Congress sessions. These elements help visitors understand the daily reality of the institutions that occupied this place.
The museum is centrally located facing Plaza Bolivar, making it easily accessible on foot from nearby areas. Visitors should note that stairs between levels are steep, and visiting the basement level requires climbing.
The basement preserves original cells where prisoners were held in complete isolation, with walls so thick that outside sounds could not penetrate. Walking through this space today reveals how isolation itself was used as a form of punishment.
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