Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bolivia became landlocked after losing its Litoral department to Chile. The collection
consists mainly of historical maps that defend Bolivia's emotionally charged claims to
Antofagasta and Chile's Segunda Región.
Once the home of Pedro Domingo Murillo, a leader in the La Paz Revolution of July
colonial art and furniture, textiles, medicines, musical instruments and household items of
glass and silver that once belonged to Bolivian aristocracy. Other odds and ends include a
collection of Alasitas miniatures.
contains art and photos, as well as some superb ceramic figurine dioramas of old La Paz.
One of these is a representation of
akulliko,
the hour of coca-chewing; another portrays
the festivities surrounding the Día de San Juan Bautista (St John the Baptist's Day) on
June 24; another depicts the hanging of Murillo in 1810. Also on display are colonial arti-
facts and colorful dolls wearing traditional costumes. A pleasant cafe is on the premises.
Museo de Instrumentos Musicales
(Museum of Musical Instruments; Calle Jaén 711, Casco Viejo; admission B$5;
9:30am-1pm & 2-6:30pm daily)
The exhaustive, hands-on collection of unique instru-
ments at this museum is a must for musicians. The brainchild of
charango
master Ernesto
Cavour Aramayo, it displays all possible incarnations of the
charango
(a traditional
Bolivian ukulele-type instrument) and other indigenous instruments used in Bolivian folk
music and beyond. If you don't happen on an impromptu jam session, check out Peña
Marka Tambo across the street. You can also arrange
charango
and wind instrument les-
sons here for around B$50 per hour.
MUSEUM
Museo Nacional de Arqueología
(National Archaeology Museum; Tiahuanacu 93, Casco Viejo; admission B$10;
9am-12:30pm & 3-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon Sat)
Two blocks east of the Prado, this mu-
seum (closed for renovations at press time) holds a small but well-sorted collection of arti-
facts that illustrate the most interesting aspects of Tiwanaku culture - those that weren't
stolen or damaged during the colonial days, anyway. Some of the ancient stonework dis-
appeared into Spanish construction projects, while valuable pieces found their way into
European museums or were melted down for royal treasuries. Unfortunately there are no
explanations in English, only Spanish.
MUSEUM
