Museo Inka (Incan Museum)

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Photo by flickr user eddypedro

The Museo Inka (Incan Museum), also known as the Archaeological Museum of Cusco, contains artifacts that trace Peruvian history from pre-Inca civilizations and Inca culture to the impact of the Conquest and colonial times on these native cultures.

The building was once the palace of Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado, hence its common designation as the Palacio del Almirante (Admiral's Palace).

The palace itself is one of Cusco's finest colonial mansions, with a superbly ornate portal indicating the importance of its owner. The mansion was built on top of an Inca palace at the beginning of the 17th century.

The main draw of this archaeological museum is its collection of Inca mummies, but the entire facility is Cusco's best introduction to pre-Columbian Andean culture, including the rich cultures that thrived before the Incas.

The museum's exhibits include ceramics, textiles, vases, jewelry, architectural models, and an interesting collection (reputed to be the world's largest) of Inca drinking vessels (qeros) carved out of wood, many meticulously painted. In the courtyard is a studio of women weaving traditional textiles.

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Written by  Martin Gray.

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