Larco Museum, Pre-Columbian art museum in Pueblo Libre, Lima, Peru.
Description
The Larco Museum is an archaeological museum in Pueblo Libre housed in an 18th-century mansion that displays over 45,000 objects from Peruvian civilizations. The collection includes ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and metalwork spanning roughly 5,000 years, mostly from the northern and central coast of Peru.
History
Rafael Larco Hoyle founded the collection in 1926 after his father gifted him a ceremonial ceramic piece, sparking his interest in pre-Columbian art. The museum later moved to its current mansion, which sits atop a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid.
Culture
The name honors Rafael Larco Hoyle, who devoted his life to studying Moche ceramics and developed a scientific cataloging method still used today. Visitors encounter the Erotic Gallery, which houses hundreds of ceramic pieces depicting sexual acts and shows how openly Moche culture approached the human body.
Practical
The museum sits on Avenida Simón Bolívar 1515 and opens daily from 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM, with all areas accessible for wheelchair users. The gardens surrounding the building offer seating and a quiet place to rest between exhibitions.
Did you know?
The storage area remains open to visitors and displays 30,000 classified ceramic pieces on industrial shelves, sorted by form and function. This arrangement lets guests directly compare the variety of pre-Columbian ceramic production and spot patterns in shape and decoration.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Lima).
National University of San Marcos
2.1 km
Parque de las Leyendas
1.8 kmEstadio Universidad San Marcos
2.1 km
National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru
1.1 km
El Campo de Marte
3.3 km
Larco Museum
67 m
Mateo Salado
1.2 km
Residencial San Felipe, Lima
2.5 km
Hospital Víctor Larco Herrera
3 km
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
2.9 km
Teatro Peruano Japonés
2.4 km
Huaca Huantille
1.4 km
Huaca San Marcos
2.2 km
Iglesia María Magdalena, Pueblo Libre
1 km
Casa del arquitecto Luis Miro Quesada Garland
2.5 km
Casa Hacienda de Orbea
1.1 km
Monumento a los defensores de la frontera
3.3 km
Palacio de la Magdalena
1.1 km
Monumento al Inmaculado Corazón de María
2.7 km
Huaca Palomino
1.5 km
Huaca Huantinamarca
2.4 km
Huaca Casa Rosada
2 km
Historical Museum of Physical Sciences
1.9 km
Huaca Corpus I
1.2 km
Finca de Iturrizaga
1.2 km
Monumento a Simón Bolívar, Pueblo Libre
1.1 km
Statue of Confucius
852 m
Iglesia de San José, Jesús María
2.5 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes