Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

Frommer's Review

Heading back on Merced and past the plaza to Bandera, you'll find the excellent Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, housed in the elegant 1807 ex-Royal Customs House. This is one of the better museums in Chile, both for its varied collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and its handsome design. There are more than 1,500 objects on display here, including Chinchorro mummies, pottery, jewelry, and ceramic art spread throughout seven exhibition rooms. The collection is encompassing but not as extensive as, say, the Anthropological Museum of Mexico; the exhibition does offer a vivid glimpse of indigenous life and culture before the arrival of the Spanish. The material spans from Mexico to Chile, incorporating all regions of Latin America. Plan to spend about 45 minutes here, and be sure to leave time for the museum's textile exhibition, which in early 2007 showcased a fascinating display of woven and feathered hats. There's also a well-stocked bookstore that sells music, videos, and reproductions of Indian art, textiles, and jewelry. Docents offer guided tours in English by appointment. The museum's store sells maps, books, guides, and souvenirs.

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