In the 17th and 18th centuries, Potosí may have been the mining center of the world. However, it was also a thriving cultural center and the home of some of the most famous colonial artists in the Americas. This museum is a treasure trove of colonial art, and it displays some of the most famous works of these artists. One of the most impressive is Gaspar Miguel de Berrio’s two-paneled Adoración de los Reyes y Adoración de los Pastores, which is one of the few Bolivian colonial paintings with an African figure in it.
There is a whole room dedicated to Melchor Pérez Holguín, who was actually a mestizo; if you look carefully at his work, you can see some indigenous influences. There are also several galleries dedicated to contemporary Bolivian art. In addition to seeing some fine art, you will find yourself in one of the most important colonial structures of the Americas: The building dates from 1775. Plan on spending about an hour and a half here.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Plaza
Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore