Palace of the Almirante - Inka Museum

History

The Casa del Almirante, now home to the Museo Inka, is one of the most important colonial mansions in the historic center of Cusco. It is known by this name because of the Spanish admiral Francisco Alderete Maldonado, who was linked to the history of the building during the 17th century.

The building stands on an ancient Inca plot traditionally associated with the palace of Huáscar. After the Spanish conquest, the property passed through different owners and uses. Over the centuries, it served as the headquarters of the Archbishopric of Cusco, the temporary residence of the last viceroy of Peru, José de la Serna, and the Government House of Andrés de Santa Cruz during the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.

In the 20th century, the mansion became property of the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco and was later designated as the headquarters of the Museo Inka, an institution dedicated to preserving, researching, and sharing the archaeological and historical heritage of Andean cultures.

Description

The Museo Inka preserves an important collection of ceramics, textiles, stone and wooden tools, gold and silver objects, human remains, mummies, and evidence of ancient medical practices, such as cranial trepanations.

On the exterior of the building, an original Inca wall and a Renaissance doorway stand out, the latter considered one of the most notable in the city. The entrance is flanked by Plateresque-style decorative elements and fluted Corinthian columns. Above the door, two stone coats of arms linked to the Alderete and Maldonado families can be seen.

Where is it located?

It is located in the historic center, just a few steps from the Main Square. At Cuesta del Almirante No. 103, visitors will find the Museo Inka, also known as Casa del Almirante.

Highlights

Its exhibitions are organized into thematic rooms, arranged chronologically from pre-Inca cultures to the Inca period and the colonial era. Visitors can see ceramics from different ethnic groups, ceremonial objects, sculptures, and textiles.

These are the exhibition rooms:

• Pre-Inca sculpture room: in this room, visitors can observe ceramics and lithic artifacts from pre-Inca cultures, mainly Chavín, Paracas, Nazca, Wari, Moche, and Chimú.
• Pre-Inca human settlements room: this room displays panels, ceramics, and lithic tools from the first cultures that inhabited the Cusco region, such as Marcavalle, Qotakalli, Chanapata, and others.
• Environment room: this room presents the different geographic regions of Cusco, such as Quechua, Puna, and Yunga. The explanation is supported by maps, models, and infographics.
• Origins of the Incas room: this room explains the origin of the Inca ethnic group, believed to have come from the Altiplano around the 12th century. It includes maps, infographics, and ceramics that illustrate the early years of the Incas in the Cusco Valley.
• Inca continuity room: this room is also known as “The Incas of Qosqo” and offers a collection of ceremonial vessels, textiles, ceramics, and drawings by Guamán Poma de Ayala from the imperial Inca period.
• Spanish invasion room: as its name indicates, this room displays sculptures, canvases, portraits, and furniture from the Spanish colonial period in Cusco, beginning in the 16th century.
• Mallki room or Inca tombs: in this room, visitors can observe a recreation of an Inca tomb with mummies surrounded by sacred objects such as ceramics, textiles, and offerings to the gods.

The visit also allows visitors to learn about ceramics, textile techniques, stonework, architecture, agriculture, medicine, and ritual practices of Andean cultures.

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays and holidays: from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Foreign adult: S/. 20.00
Foreign student: S/. 10.00

Peruvian adult: S/. 10.00
Peruvian student: S/. 5.00

Opening hours and rates may vary, so it is recommended to verify the current information before your visit.