Museo de Historia del Arte

The Museo de Historia del Arte is an art museum in Montevideo that displays original works and casts spanning from prehistoric times through the 19th century across multiple exhibition halls. It offers a broad survey of how artistic styles and techniques developed across different periods and regions of human history.

The museum was established to preserve and display Uruguay's artistic heritage, including archaeological finds from the country itself. It holds the most substantial collection of pre-Columbian art available to the public in Uruguay.

The museum holds South America's largest collection of Guatemalan Maya textiles, which are rarely seen in such quantity elsewhere on the continent. Alongside these are African artworks and pieces from Eastern and Islamic traditions that show how different cultures expressed themselves through art.

Visitors can explore the museum from Tuesday through Saturday and should allow enough time to see all the galleries, as the collection is extensive. It is helpful to check the website beforehand to confirm opening times and any special closures.

The Egyptian section displays the mummy of Priestess Esoeris, preserved in a specially designed crypt located on the museum's first underground level. This artifact draws visitors interested in ancient Egyptian history and burial practices.