The Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) is the most important art museum in Peru. Its collection covers about 3,000 years of Peruvian art, from ancient textiles and ceramics to colonial painting, photography and contemporary works.
The building
The museum is located in the Palacio de la Exposición, an elegant building constructed in 1872 for Lima’s International Exhibition, in the middle of the Parque de la Exposición. Its white façade and its iron and glass interiors make the visit worthwhile in themselves.
What you will see
- Pre-Columbian art: textiles, ceramics and metalwork from the main cultures of ancient Peru.
- Colonial art: paintings of the Cusco School, sculptures, silverwork and furniture.
- Republican art: 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and photography that show the life of Lima after Independence.
- Modern and contemporary art: works by Peruvian artists of the last hundred years.
- Temporary exhibitions: the museum regularly hosts exhibitions of Peruvian and international art.
Visit the MALI
The visit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The museum is close to the Historic Center, so it is easy to combine with the Plaza Mayor and San Francisco. Ask us about including it in your Lima Private City Tour.