International Museum Day

Sacred spaces of national history

Many times, the first memory that a person has of a school excursion is the guided tour of a museum. That building with huge rooms, which store items, paintings and mannequins, among others. Fun assured from the beginning to the end of the journey, in an adventure that ends up being profitable in every sense: in a museum, you will learn in a didactic way as much as in a classroom.

Visiting a museum is opening your mind to knowledge. And not just the story: you can also meddle in art, music and culture. For this reason, the International Museum Day, which is celebrated every 18th of May, vindicates these important spaces full of history. This initiative was created thanks to the International Counsil of Museums (ICOM), an agency under Unesco. Thus, these celebrations have been held continuously from 1977 to the present.

Funerary bundle of the Huari culture, Larco Museum. ©Promperú.

How is it celebrated in Peru?

In Peru, it is celebrated by opening the museums to all the public: entrance is completely free every May 18, for everyone and without exception. Adults, children, Peruvians and foreigners are exempt from making any kind of payment to enter museums and visit their facilities.

The intention of granting the green light to their buildings on International Museum Day is to motivate the new generations so that they do not lose interest in these spaces of collective history. So you can plan with your family a visit to the most striking exhibitions in your locality.

However, that is not the only purpose. The idea is for museum-related professionals to show the general public all advantages and benefits that these exhibitions provide.

What are the museums you should not miss in Peru?

There are a number of attractions and valuable exhibitions in the facilities of the National Museum of Peruvian Culture, Larco Museum, Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipan Museum, Site 'Arturo Jiménez Borja' - Puruchuco Museum, The Lima Art Museum (MALI), The Archaeological Sanctuary of Pachacamac Museum, Museum of Cao, Museum of Site Huaca Pucllana, among others.