Museo del Cerebro, Brain research museum at Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Hospital, Lima, Peru
The Museo del Cerebro houses several hundred preserved brain specimens displayed across three rooms within Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Hospital. The collection includes human and animal samples organized to show anatomical structures and various neurological conditions.
Neuropathologist Diana Rivas founded the collection in the 1940s through systematic preservation of brain specimens obtained from hospital autopsies. Her work created a scientific foundation that became central to medical education at this institution.
The museum serves as a teaching tool for the medical community, showing how doctors and students study brain structure and function in their daily work. Visitors witness the practical methods used to train future physicians in understanding neurological conditions.
No special preparation is needed to visit, but the rooms can feel intense for some visitors given the medical nature of the display. It helps to know beforehand that this is a specialized scientific collection so you arrive with appropriate expectations.
The collection displays not only human brains but also specimens from sloths, sheep, chickens, and guinea pigs. These comparative materials help visitors understand how brain structures differ across various species.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
