Casa del Alabado (Precolumbian Art Museum), Quito

The Pre-Columbian Art Museum, housed in a beautifully preserved 17th-century colonial building, is a fascinating destination for history and anthropology enthusiasts. The museum was established to preserve and showcase the diverse Pre-Columbian cultures of Ecuador.

Its collection includes around 5,000 artifacts, some dating as far back as 4500 BCE, offering an immersive look into the artistic and spiritual life of the region’s ancient peoples. Each piece reveals the creativity and symbolic depth of Ecuador’s early cultures, from everyday objects to items used in sacred ceremonies.

Most of the artifacts are ceramics used in ceremonial and ritual contexts, representing cultures such as Valdivia, Jama-Coaque, and Chorrera. These are displayed across eight galleries, each dedicated to a specific theme or cultural tradition. Additional artifacts from other pre-Inca civilizations provide broader insight into Ecuador’s deep and diverse cultural heritage, illustrating the continuity and transformation of indigenous artistic traditions long before the rise of the Inca Empire.

A tour of the museum typically lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. Afterward, visitors can relax and enjoy food and wine at the charming café located in the museum’s courtyard.