All about the Machu Picchu museum of the Casa Concha
Description
The Machu Picchu museum of the Casa Concha has 360 pieces found during excavations in the Inca city, which were returned from Yale University in 2011. Some collections of knives, ceramics, mirrors, tweezers, aríbalos, queros, lithic objects and more stand out. The museum is located in a colonial house belonging to the Marquis José Santiago Concha y Salvatierra, which was built on the foundations of the palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui.
The museum, in addition to the objects found in Machu Picchu, exhibits other collections with paintings, furniture and colonial relics belonging to the old house of Casa Concha. Likewise, there are rooms that include educational material on the discovery of Machupicchu undertaken by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Likewise, the place has a research space for people interested in the Inca city. The enclosure has up to 16 rooms.
Where is?
The museum is located on Calle Santa Catalina Ancha Nº320, just a few steps from the Main Square of of Cusco.
The Casa Concha museum opened its doors in 2011, after the repatriation of Inca objects to Peru by Yale University. A part of these objects are also in the Machu Picchu site museum 'Manuel Chávez Ballón', located in the town of Aguas Calientes (at the foot of the wonder of the world). This museum offers a historical tour through the process of discovery, investigation and enhancement of Machupicchu. The cost of entry is 22 Peruvian soles (7 US dollars, approximately). After noon, admission is free for everyone.
How to get there?
The best way to get to the Machu Picchu museum of the Casa Concha is to go on foot. To do this, you must start from the Main Square of Main Square towards Calle Sta. Catalina Angosta and then turn towards Calle Sta. Catalina Ancha. The walk only takes 5 minutes.
Map to get to the Machu Picchu museum of the Casa Concha
House of José Santiago Concha y Salvatierra
The house of the Marquis José Santiago Concha y Salvatierra is a colonial residence built on the foundations of the 'Puka Marka', the family palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui who ruled the Tahuantinsuyo between 1471 and 1493, approximately. This Inca architecture can be observed on the first floor (2 meters underground through a glass).
This colonial house sits on an area of 2,373 square meters. It was built at the beginning of the Inca conquest. Its first owner, the Marquis José Santiago Concha y Salvatierra was a magistrate and Creole nobleman. During its more than 300 years of history, it suffered damage in the earthquakes of 1650 and 1950. Already in the 20th century, it was the army headquarters and police station of Peru. Finally, it was taken over by the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, who carried out the restoration work.
The house stands out for its baroque colonial architecture with indigenous elements. It has a monolithic main door with carved decorations. Also noteworthy is its seven-bay balcony and its spacious main patio with arches at its sides. Its galleries and rooms also feature stone arches and refined ornamentation with canvases, coffered ceilings and carvings. The place had to be carefully renovated to open its doors to the public in 2011.
Machu Picchu Collection
The Casa Concha museum exhibits 366 pieces of various kinds, which were returned by Yale University in 2011. These pieces are made up of: knives, ceramics, mirrors, tweezers, aribals, queros, lithic objects and even human skulls (177 partial human skeletons). Likewise, the enclosure has some pieces found during the investigation work in the house of the Marquis Concha y Salvatierra.
The Machu Picchu collection, in addition to the Inca pieces, exhibits models, photographs, panels, infographics and educational videos that explain the development of Inca culture, emphasizing the history of Machupicchu. The collection is made up mainly of ceramics for daily use (queros, plates, jugs, etc). Likewise, there is a set of 45,000 fragmentary pieces kept in the deposits for later study.
How much?
- Adult foreigners: 20 Peruvian soles (6 US dollars, approximately).
- Adult Peruvians: 10 Peruvian soles (3 US dollars, approximately).
- Foreign students: 10 Peruvian soles (3 US dollars, approximately).
- Peruvian students: 5 Peruvian soles (1.50 US dollars, approximately).
- Citizens of Cusco: free admission.
Schedule
The museum is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Sundays).
Photos of the Machu Picchu museum of the Casa Concha
Additional Information
The museum opened its doors to the public on November 10, 2011, after the repatriation of the collection of Inca objects made by Yale University from the United States to Peru (the transfer cost about 1 million dollars). In just one year, the place received approximately 70,000 visits.
A part of the Inca objects from Machu Picchu returned to Peru are in the Casa Concha museum. Another part is in the Machupicchu site museum in the town of Aguas Calientes. There are also pieces in Lima, for display and study.
Some advices
At the door of the museum there are official tourist guides who, in exchange for a fee, will accompany you during your tour giving you information about the site. Remember that inside the museum it is forbidden to take photographs and touch the pieces whose historical value is incalculable.
As well as the Casa Concha museum, the tourist can visit some of the other museums in the city of Cusco, such as: the Coricancha site museum, the Inca museum, the pre-Columbian art museum, the regional historical museum and more.