Museos Municipales

The Museos Municipales is actually a collection of four museums all located on the beautiful Spanish-style Calle Jaén. One ticket -- purchased from the Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas -- will allow you to gain access to all of them. Visiting four museums sounds like a lot, but they are all small, and it only takes about an hour to see everything. Note: There are very few explanations in English at the museums, and the ones in Spanish aren't especially descriptive.

If you only have time (or patience) for one museum, I recommend visiting the Museo de Metales Preciosos, Calle Jaén 777, where you'll see interesting gold and silver belts, necklaces, bowls, crowns, and bracelets from both the Inca and Tiwanaku cultures, as well as a Tiwanaku monolith. The courtyard here is also quite interesting: If you look closely at the ground, you can see the remains of sheep bones, which the Spanish used as home decorations during the colonial era.

The Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas, Calle Jaén on the corner of Calle Sucre, specializes in the early-20th-century history of La Paz. Some amazing photographs are on display, as well as old pianos and phonographs and many modern figurines depicting all styles of life and clothing in La Paz.

The Museo del Litoral Boliviano, Calle Jaén 789, is the least interesting of the bunch. It's tiny, and it houses relics from the Pacific War (1879-84), when Bolivia lost its access to the sea. On display are portraits of Bolivian generals, uniforms, guns, gun cases, and information about Ignacia Zeballos (one of the founders of the Red Cross, who was from Santa Cruz, Bolivia).

The Museo Casa de Murillo, Calle Jaén 790, is a beautiful old mansion dating from the 18th century. Inside, you will find baroque-style carved-wood furniture, including intricate picture frames. The house itself is also historically significant -- the home of General Murillo, a prominent player in Bolivia's independence movement, is where the revolutionary leaders drew up Bolivia's declaration of independence.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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