Tacna has a surprising number of museums, enough to fill a day or two of sightseeing. Most feature the players important to Tacna’s struggle for independence, but a few surprises await the traveler.

Museo Postal y Filtélico—After mailing your letter, stop into this small museum with the first hundred stamps of Peru, stamps from around the world and postal implements from the past century (Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Bolognesi 361. Entry: free).

Casa Museo Basadre—This Republican-era house was the childhood home of Jorge Basadre Grohmann (the man on the 50 soles note), renowned historian and key figure in Tacna’s independence from Chile. The museum has his personal effects and writings, plus a gallery of Tacneño artists (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5p.m. San Martín 212. Entry: free).

Museo Casa de la Comisión Jurídica—Here is where the ceremony to reincorporate Tacna into Peru took place in 1929. Several rooms display the history of this momentous act and period furnishings. It is also the Regional Archives, with records from the 17th to mid-20th centuries. (Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Zela 716, Tel.: 41-5225. Entry: free).

Museo Sitio Campo de la Alianza—Located at kilometer 8 of the Pan-American Highway Norte, this museum and monument are on the site of a major battle of the Guerra del Pacífico, May 26 a880. The monument is composed of white stone spires with fallen soldiers atop (daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Entry: complex free, museum $0.35).

Museo de Sitio Las Peañas—Displays of archaeological finds (mostly ceramics) from the 8000 BC to Inca times (Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Prolongación Jorge Basachre, Pocollay district. Entry: $1).

Location:
Tacna, Peru

Museum Types:
Archaeology, History, Art, Postal

Getting There
Most museums are in the downtown area. To Museo Sitio Campo de la Alianza: only on August 28 is there public transport; the rest of the year, go on tour ($9) or take a taxi ($3.35 round t

Travel Tips: From Peañas you can also make a circuit of the wineries at Pocollay, peach-rich Calana, Calientes hot springs and Miculla.

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
Peruvian nuevo sol

By Lorraine Caputo

Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began traipsing throughout...

Created: 08 Oct 2008

Updated: 08 Oct 2008

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