El Conjunto de Belén

El Conjunto de Belén Review

Built in the 17th century, this large complex, originally a hospital, now houses the city's most interesting museums and a colonial church. At the Museo Arqueológico de Cajamarca, the town's archaeological museum, are exhibits of Cajamarcan ceramics and weavings. The pre-Inca Cajamarcans were especially famous for their excellent patterned textiles that were often dyed vivid shades of blue. The Museo Etnográfico has a few displays of everyday bric-a-brac—there's even an old saddle and a dilapidated coffee grinder—dating back to pre-colonial times. The Iglesia de Belén is a charming church with a polychrome pulpit and cupola.