Jaen Street and its Museums, La Paz

Jaén Street is widely regarded as the best-preserved colonial street in the city. This charming street is home to four small museums that are located close together, making it easy for visitors to explore them in a single visit. These include the Customs Museum, the Museum of Precious Metals, the Coastal Museum, and the Murillo House.

Starting at the Customs Museum, visitors can explore a range of artistic and historical displays. The museum features paintings, photographs, and ceramic dioramas depicting scenes from historic La Paz. These dioramas illustrate everyday moments such as akulliku, the traditional practice of coca chewing, as well as celebrations for Saint John the Baptist’s Day and the historic event of Murillo’s execution in 1810. Alongside these, the museum also displays colonial artifacts and traditional dolls dressed in regional clothing. A small café inside the museum offers a place to relax with refreshments.

The Museum of Precious Metals, also known as the Gold Museum, presents an impressive collection of pre-Columbian gold, silver, and copper works. Its exhibits are arranged in a series of rooms that highlight the craftsmanship of ancient civilizations, particularly the Tiwanaku culture.

The smaller Coastal Museum focuses mainly on historical maps and documents related to Bolivia’s territorial claims over Antofagasta and the country’s Second Region in Chile. It provides insight into these long-standing disputes and how they have been viewed historically.

Murillo House, once the residence of Pedro Domingo Murillo, a key figure in the La Paz independence, now functions as a museum.

Jaén Street brings together history, art, and culture in one compact area.