Museums are an essential part of a country’s cultural heritage. You may be wondering which museums you should visit when travelling to La Paz. We have a list of the best museums you must see in La Paz to help you.
Museum of Musical Instruments
In its rooms you can find national and international instruments with unique characteristics, many of them created by the composer and charango Ernesto Cavour. It shows an interesting collection of musical instruments dating from pre-Hispanic times to the present day, with more than 2,000 pieces representing all regions of the country, including panpipes, flutes, charango, drums…
Museum of Ethnography and Folklore
The MUSEF operates in the palace of the Marquis of Villaverde. The architectural structure built in 1730 has a typical colonial style and stands out for its courtyards with stone arches and semicircular triumphal arch , with heraldic shield carved in stone. It is located in the historic center of La Paz between Ingavi and Genaro Sanjinés streets. In 1930 was declared a National Monument. It is one of the best examples of civil colonial architecture of the city.
San Francisco Church Museum
The temple and the convent were built with carved stone and completed in the mid-eighteenth century; the facade of the church of San Francisco corresponds to the Baroque style.
The tower was built in 1885. The interior, also Baroque, has three naves separated by a barrel vault and dome half, with four windows on the cruise. It was completed in 1753 and construction lasted 40 years. Its altarpiece is famous for the fine fabric covered in gold leaf. The church also has an art gallery that presents a valuable collection of Renaissance neoclassical artistic works, as well as mannerist, baroque and mestizo.
Plaza Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Plaza)
On the west side of El Prado, this 19th century house, which has been declared a national monument, is the Museum of Contemporary Art Plaza. This eclectic building is notable for its facade and iron balconies with Art Nouveau style. It has an excellent selection of contemporary art by national and international artists with rotating exhibits and some artworks are for sale.
Folklorik Museum “Juan de Vargas”
In this museum you can see the various customs and history of the city in miniature representations, several dioramas and models, outstanding characters, historical events such as the hanging of Murillo or Tupac Katari martyrdom, the football of La Paz, etc. The museum also has some paintings of La Paz of yesteryear, scenes of the old city tram and images of pre-Columbian dairy farms.
Museum of Bolivian Andean Textiles
This museum displays weaving process, styles, textiles from different cultures and regions of the country with iconographic designs and a sample of treasures born of spinning wheels and weaving. Excels the importance of the fabric of the Andes dating back for more than 3,000.
Museum of National Art of La Paz
The National Art Museum (Dìez de Medina Palace) is one of the most important museums and cultural institutions in Bolivia which was created in 1960 under the Ministry of Education and Culture. It has an extensive permanent collection of colonial paintings, including canvas from Gregorio Gamarra and Melchor Pèrez de Holguìn, painters from the XIX century.
It's remarkable its Andean Baroque style or mestizo, which demonstrates the mastery of indigenous hands that carved the stone. It was built with brick, masonry, framed within a rectangular courtyard surrounded by harmonious arcades on three floors and a monumental doorway inside carved stone including papaya fruit in cornucopias flanking the side columns.
Museum of Precious Metals
The museum exhibits gold and ceramic manufactured in pre-Columbian times. The Gold Room has valuables made in this metal, like pectoral headbands, earmuffs, blankets and clothing ornaments, which are attributed to the Inca culture.
In the Silver Living objects of religious-ceremonial use of Aymara, Mollo, Wankarani, Chiripa, Tiwanaku and Inca cultures are shown.
An object that stands out is the Magna Source that is between 3,000 and 3,500 years old; construction inside a chullpa (funerary tower) with mummies and offerings that can also be appreciated.
Casa de Murillo Museum (Murillo’s Home)
Museum dedicated to the patriot Pedro Domingo Murillo and the July Revolution of 1809. It is a construction of the early nineteenth century, which has two floors with the following showrooms: Living Room Furniture, Hall of Presidents, Chamber of Crafts and Chamber of birth Baroque. The second floor comprises the Pinacoteca Colonial, Room Conspiracy, Oratorio and bedroom.
Coca Museum
Visit the Coca Museum of La Paz to discover the history and importance of the coca leaf in Bolivia and Andean culture. Within this small museum you will find hundreds of briefings that will evoke your thoughts. You will understand the various uses of the coca leaf and its importance for residents. Discover the difference between the actual plant and the drug, and observe the curious dummy representing a drug addict.
The staff will tell you the correct way of chewing coca leaves and what is needed to feel the numb-effect tongue. Finish your visit at the museum's cafe and test products containing coca leaf as teas and coffees, beers and juices, and cakes and biscuits. Buy souvenirs based on coca leaf, as distilled alcohol with coca and coca sweets.
These museums are just a small part of what you can do and see in La Paz. For more interesting attractions you can join one of our tours in La Paz or check out one of our La Paz walking tours.
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