Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Plaza del Folklore s/n; admission both museums B$10, camera/video use B$3/20;
9-11:15am & 3:15-5:30pm)
This is an excellent double museum attached to the Santuario
de la Virgen del Socavón. Access is by guided tour only. The tour descends from the
church down to an old mining tunnel with various tools from both colonial and modern
mining eras as well as representations of the devilish El Tío, spirit of the underground.
The tour then goes upstairs to the other part of the museum, which has a variety of exhib-
its, from Wankarani-period stone llama heads to Diablada (Dance of the Devils) costumes.
Guides are knowledgeable but they often don't speak English - some exhibits have bilin-
gual explanations.
CHULLPA TOMBS
A
chullpa
is a funerary tower or mausoleum that various Aymará groups built to house the mummified remains of
some members of their society, presumably people of high rank or esteem within the community. The Oruro de-
partment is particularly rich in
chullpas,
especially along the shores of
Lago Poopó
and around the
Sajama
area.
A
chullpa
was constructed of stone or adobe, and typically had a beehive-shaped opening, which nearly always
faced east toward the rising sun. The body was placed in the fetal position along with various possessions. Some
communities would ritually open the
chullpas
on feast days and make offerings to the mummified ancestors; the
Chipaya still do. Most of the tombs, however, have been looted, apart from some bones here and there, and the
mummies can now be found in museums, such as the Museo Antropoló- gico Eduardo López Rivas (
Click here
)
in Oruro. The biggest concentration is found along the road from Patacamaya to Chile. There are also between 18
and 25
chullpas
along the Lauca circuit (
Click here
)
.
Cathedral
(Sorria Galvarro s/n)
Just east of Plaza 10 Febrero, the cathedral has fine stained glass
above the altar. The adjacent tower was constructed by the Jesuits as part of a church built
before Oruro was founded. When the Jesuits were expelled, it was designated as the
cathedral of the Oruro bishopric. In 1994, the original baroque entrance was moved and
reconstructed at the Santuario de la Virgen del Socavón, which presents a grand city view.
CHURCH
Plaza del Folklore Stairway
(Plaza del Folklore)
Just up from the Plaza del Folklore there's a stairway that takes you
huffing and puffing to a handful of interesting murals and a dangerous-looking three-story
slide.
LOOKOUT
