Machu Picchu is surely the main attraction for most travelers in Peru, the historical sanctuary is the most impressive structure of the Incas, and its remote location, architecture, and engineering elements are still being praised by many archeologists and historians.
Although it took some time to understand the origin of the megalithic structure, there is no certainty of the actual function of the site. However, thanks to the excavations carried out in the famous citadel, now we can assume some important details of the mysterious Inca sanctuary.
Hiram Bingham unveiled the Machu Picchu citadel to the world, though it was widely known by the locals of the area. Thanks to his “rediscovery,” the archeological site was preserved and added great historical value to the Peruvian territory.
Nonetheless, the renowned sanctuary can’t be overshadowed by its ancient enigma since its imposing architectural style and otherworldly scenery make it stand out from the rest of the Inca remains.
The Machu Picchu Museum was founded with the initiative to preserve the different archeological artifacts found during the expedition led by Hiram Bingham in 1912. Most of these ancestral objects were held for almost 100 years by Yale University, they finally returned to Peru in 2011.
Nowadays, the Museo Casa Concha or Museo Machu Picchu is one of the most visited attractions within Cusco city since it houses over 300 Inca pieces including jewels, pottery, textiles, partial skeletons, and more. Please get to know more about it with this special article.
It is a colonial structure built on top of one of the most significant Inca settlements, the palace of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, a descendant of Pachacutec. The famous Inca palace was an enormous structure built to be distinguished from the former Inca rulers.
Unfortunately, there is not much information about the Inca remains except for some of the Inca walls that remained as the foundations of the current colonial building we have today. During the colonization process, the Cusqueñan lands were assigned to different Spanish conquerors, thereby, the so-called Pukamarka Palace was designated to Diego de Santiago.
However, it wasn’t until 1710 that the actual Casa Concha was built and later sold to Don José de Santiago – Concha Salvatierra, hence the name. Later, it had several owners until it was finally donated to the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco in 2001, who then made it the Museum of Machu Picchu after the arrival of the many archeological findings in 2011.
The Machu Picchu Museum offers a glance at how life could have been in the famous citadel of the Incas. However, some things have remained a mystery until the current date. The site also holds a collection of colonial art, as well as pieces and sculptures from the viceregal era.
The renowned museum is located a few meters away from Plaza de Armas, in Santa Catalina Ancha Street to be exact. To visit the site, you can take a short walk or even a guided tour through the main attractions of the city, that way you’ll get to know even more of the authentic legacy of the Imperial City of the Incas.
Luckily for you, we have an exclusive excursion through the Historic Center of Cusco, where you get to know the main attractions, streets, and other points of interest within the old town. The tour is available in all our travel experiences as an exclusive activity for Viagens Machu Picchu passengers only.
- Operating Hours: Monday to Friday - From 09:00h to 17:00h.
- Entrance: Foreign Tourists - S/.20.00 | Foreign Students - S/. 5.00.
- Address: Santa Catalina Ancha 320, Cusco.
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Would you like to know more about Peruvian history? Here we have gathered 5 of the best museums in Cusco that you shouldn't miss during your trip. There's so much to know about the ancient Peruvians and we would love to show you everything about our cultural expression while you're here!
