Museo de Oro

Museo de Oro Review

When you see examples of how Peru's pre-Columbian societies manipulated gold—from a mantle made of postage-stamp-size pieces worn by a Lambayeque priest to an intricately designed sheet that once decorated an entire wall of the Chimú capital of Chán Chán—you begin to imagine the opulence of the cities that the Spanish conquistadors plundered. The Gold Museum has other interesting items, including a child's poncho of yellow feathers, a skull with a full set of pink quartz teeth, and several mummies. The main floor holds a dull museum of military uniforms and weapons, so most visitors head straight downstairs. None of the displays are particularly well marked, so you may want to rent a recorded tour or visit the museum as part of a city tour.