Lima Art Museum (MALI), Lima

When in Lima, be sure not to miss the Lima Art Museum, locally known as Museo de Arte de Lima, or MALI. This museum showcases the cultural richness of the Peruvian people, manifested in the variety of works created by artists of the past and present.

As you approach the museum, you will marvel at the stately edifice that houses almost three thousand years of Peruvian art embodied in a huge collection of artifacts – from textiles, relics and ceramics of the pre-Columbian era to the wonderful selection of artworks from Republican and Colonial periods, and contemporary photographs from the Filmoteca cinema.

Many rooms in the museum house thematic exhibitions, such as the ones on pre-Columbian cultures including the Nazca, Vicus, Moche, Chimu, and Ica-Chinca. Nowhere else can you find such a cultural diversity at a single location! What’s more, the museum has in its possession a few pieces of work by the father of Peruvian abstract movement, Fernando de Szyszlo.

Why You Should Visit:
MALI tries to be everything to the observer of Peruvian history. Starting with the pottery section, they have excellent pre-Columbian exhibits up to the fairly modern era.
Located in a beautiful park and housed in an outstanding building, the museum provides a wonderful two-hour glimpse of Peruvian history in spacious exhibit areas.

Tip:
There is an audio guide app that you can download on the spot, as the museum has open wifi.
Also, check out the virtual tour of the Nazca Lines that is actually better than the real thing because you use a VR set and can see in detail as if hovering over them.