Conflict and Culture in Ayacucho"s Museums
The city of Ayacucho, and the wider Ayacucho Region, are steeped in history and culture.
Pre-Columbian cultures such as the Wari thrived in the region, while modern conflicts such as the War of Independence and the violent internal struggle of the 1980s were shaped here. The city’s 33 churches and countless artisans, meanwhile, have ensured a vibrant cultural scene even during the harshest of times.
With such a rich history, it’s no surprise that the city of Ayacucho and the Ayacucho Region are home to a number of museums exhibiting varied collections…
Ayacucho’s somber but undeniably important Memory Museum pays tribute to the victims of the violence that occurred in Peru during the internal conflict of the 80s and 90s. Approximately 70,000 people are thought to have died during clashes between forces of the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) and the Peruvian government. The museum is run by the National Association of Relatives of the Kidnapped, Detained and Disappeared of Peru (ANFASEP). The three exhibition rooms reveal the horrors and human rights violations of the era, while honoring the memory of all those who died. There’s also a photographic timeline detailing the history of political violence in Ayacucho.
The Ayacucho region is famous for its artisans, especially those that craft retablos (dioramas of everyday life, religious events or scenes from Peruvian history). None have a greater reputation than Ayacucho-born artisan and sculptor Joaquín López Antay (1897 to 1981), the leading figure in retablos ayacuchanos. The Museo de Arte Popular Joaquín López Antay displays works by the eponymous artist and other artisans from the region. Alongside the retablos, you’ll also see fine examples of handcrafted items such as rugs, ceramic model churches, tapestries and clay figurines.
The Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue contains artifacts from various cultures that once existed in the región, including the Huarpa, Wari and Inca. Wari ceramics form the bulk of the collection. There’s also a Sala de Cultura (Culture Room) that exhibits popular art from the Ayacucho region.
Located in the impressive colonial-era Casa Vivanco, the Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres contains various personal effects of Marshal Andrés A. Cáceres, one of Peru’s greatest heroes during the war against Chile from 1879 to 1883. You’ll also find further items pertaining to the War of the Pacific, including weapons, uniforms and flags, as well as colonial paintings and furniture.
The Ayacucho Textile Art Museum was opened in 2010 by the Association of Loom-Weaving Artisans of San Jose - Santa Ana (AATTSJSA). The museum exhibits and sells tapestries made by the association, including pieces made from cotton, sheep wool and alpaca wool. You can also see the traditional techniques, wooden tools and fabrics used to make the tapestries and other items.
The Museo de Sitio Wari is the on-site museum at the Wari (Huari) archaeological complex, one of the largest urban centers of pre-Columbian Peru. The museum houses artifacts discovered during the excavation of the site, including ceramics, textiles, stone tools and skeletal remains. There are also photos and a plan of the site.
Few military engagements are more important in Peruvian history than the Battle of Ayacucho, an encounter that won Peru its independence and helped bring independence to the rest of South America. The battle took place on Quinua Field, located near what is now the small town of Quinua. The museum collection contains weapons and other objects – such as rifles, bullets and telescopes -- found on the nearby battlefield. There are also models, photos and paintings of the Battle of Ayacucho and other engagements of the War of Independence. The museum is located within the house in which the Act of Capitulation was signed.
Pre-Columbian cultures such as the Wari thrived in the region, while modern conflicts such as the War of Independence and the violent internal struggle of the 1980s were shaped here. The city’s 33 churches and countless artisans, meanwhile, have ensured a vibrant cultural scene even during the harshest of times.
With such a rich history, it’s no surprise that the city of Ayacucho and the Ayacucho Region are home to a number of museums exhibiting varied collections…
Museo de la Memoria
Ayacucho’s somber but undeniably important Memory Museum pays tribute to the victims of the violence that occurred in Peru during the internal conflict of the 80s and 90s. Approximately 70,000 people are thought to have died during clashes between forces of the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) and the Peruvian government. The museum is run by the National Association of Relatives of the Kidnapped, Detained and Disappeared of Peru (ANFASEP). The three exhibition rooms reveal the horrors and human rights violations of the era, while honoring the memory of all those who died. There’s also a photographic timeline detailing the history of political violence in Ayacucho.
- Address: Jr. Libertad 1229, Ayacucho
- Hours: Every day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Entrance: free
- Phone: (51-66) 31-7170
- Website: http://anfasep.org.pe
Museo de Arte Popular Joaquín López Antay
The Ayacucho region is famous for its artisans, especially those that craft retablos (dioramas of everyday life, religious events or scenes from Peruvian history). None have a greater reputation than Ayacucho-born artisan and sculptor Joaquín López Antay (1897 to 1981), the leading figure in retablos ayacuchanos. The Museo de Arte Popular Joaquín López Antay displays works by the eponymous artist and other artisans from the region. Alongside the retablos, you’ll also see fine examples of handcrafted items such as rugs, ceramic model churches, tapestries and clay figurines.
- Address: located on the Plaza de Armas of Ayacucho
- Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (hours are subject to regular changes)
- Entrance: free
- Phone: (51-66) 31-2230
- Email: museo@unsch.edu.pe (to contact the Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga, owners of the museum)
- Website: none
Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue
The Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue contains artifacts from various cultures that once existed in the región, including the Huarpa, Wari and Inca. Wari ceramics form the bulk of the collection. There’s also a Sala de Cultura (Culture Room) that exhibits popular art from the Ayacucho region.
- Address: Av. Independencia 502, Ayacucho
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entrance: free
- Phone: (51-66) 31-2056
- Email: ayacucho@mcultura.gob.pe
- Website: none
Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres
Located in the impressive colonial-era Casa Vivanco, the Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres contains various personal effects of Marshal Andrés A. Cáceres, one of Peru’s greatest heroes during the war against Chile from 1879 to 1883. You’ll also find further items pertaining to the War of the Pacific, including weapons, uniforms and flags, as well as colonial paintings and furniture.
- Address: Jr. 28 de Julio 508, Ayacucho
- Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Entrance: free (?)
- Phone: (51-66) 83-6166
- Website: one
Museo de Arte Textil Ayacucho
The Ayacucho Textile Art Museum was opened in 2010 by the Association of Loom-Weaving Artisans of San Jose - Santa Ana (AATTSJSA). The museum exhibits and sells tapestries made by the association, including pieces made from cotton, sheep wool and alpaca wool. You can also see the traditional techniques, wooden tools and fabrics used to make the tapestries and other items.
- Address: Sector San José, Santa Ana neighborhood, Ayacucho
- Hours: unspecified
- Entrance: free
- Phone: (51-66) 31-4581
- Email: museotextilayacucho@hotmail.com
- Website: www.museotextilayacucho.org
Museo de Sitio Wari
The Museo de Sitio Wari is the on-site museum at the Wari (Huari) archaeological complex, one of the largest urban centers of pre-Columbian Peru. The museum houses artifacts discovered during the excavation of the site, including ceramics, textiles, stone tools and skeletal remains. There are also photos and a plan of the site.
- Address: km 23 of the Ayacucho-Quinua highway, Pacaycasa, Ayacucho Region
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entrance: S/.2
- Phone: (51-66) 31-2056
- Email: ayacucho@mcultura.gob.pe
- Website: none
Museo de Sitio de Quinua
Few military engagements are more important in Peruvian history than the Battle of Ayacucho, an encounter that won Peru its independence and helped bring independence to the rest of South America. The battle took place on Quinua Field, located near what is now the small town of Quinua. The museum collection contains weapons and other objects – such as rifles, bullets and telescopes -- found on the nearby battlefield. There are also models, photos and paintings of the Battle of Ayacucho and other engagements of the War of Independence. The museum is located within the house in which the Act of Capitulation was signed.
- Address: Plaza Principal (Main Square) of Quinua, about 23 miles from the city of Ayacucho, Ayacucho Region
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entrance: S/.2
- Phone: (51-66) 31-2056
- Website: none
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