Museums showcase the culture of
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Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology David J. Guzmán is a beautiful, modern facility that is located on Avenida La Revolución, across from the International Fair Grounds.This the perfect place to start your cultural tour of El Salvador.
By visiting the David J. Guzman museum, you can learn about the early history of El Salvador as it’s home to the very popular artifact found in the Tazumal ruins – the native god Xipe Totec.
The museum David J. Guzmán offers guided tours around the facility during which the guide will be explaining in detail the different themed halls. The tour takes about 1 1/2 hours, but they must be scheduled in advance.
But if you don't want a guided tour, then just tour the facility on your own. The Museum David J. Guzmán is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
February 2010 update:
The embassy of Japan in El Salvador will be holding the "Japan Close to You" festival at the Museum David J. Guzmán from February 27th to March 20th. All activities are free of charge but have limited availability.
The activities will begin with the visit of Michiko Hamasaki who will give a calligraphy workshop at 2pm and an art display at the Centro Comercial Galerias.
Other activities include origami, martial arts, food and so much more. Have you ever tried curry pupusas? this will be your chance to taste Salvadorian food with a Japanese twist!
It is definitely worth stopping by to enjoy a taste of the culture of El Salvador with a great glimpse into the Japanese culture, for more info Japanese embassy.
Museum of Art
But there’s more to the culture of El Salvador… nearby is also the Museum of Art of El Salvador.
This museum opened its doors in 2003 and it showcases Salvadorean art in its permanent exhibitions as well in the private collections.It beautifully represents the 19th century and contemporary art of El Salvador.
The museum has 3 halls dedicated to temporary exhibitions for national and international art. The other hall, named the Great Hall, is dedicated entirely to Salvadorean paintings.
Salvadorean artists such as Carlos Alberto Imery and Valero Lecha portray every day life and the culture of El Salvador through their art.
The Museum of Art of El Salvador is a must-see when visiting San Salvador, it’s a really enriching experience. The staff is also very helpful and friendly.As visitors approach the Museum of Art, they will be greeted by a national landmark – Monumento a la Revolución (The Revolution Monument). This monument is often referred to by locals as “El Chulon” or the “Naked Man”.
The Museum is also conveniently located, about 5-10 minute walk from the David J. Guzmán museum.
The Museum of Art of El Salvador is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Admission is $1.50 and $0.50 for students and can be paid cash or with a major credit card. There is local bus service and plenty of taxis that service this area.
Museum of Popular Art
Another type of art very representative of the culture of El Salvador is miniature pottery. The Museum of Popular Art with its interesting slogan, “The Greatness of Miniature”, specializes in this area.As you can see in the picture, this is a clay rendition of a cyclist. The piece of art so tiny that it can be held between your thumb and index finger - amazing detail!
The Museum of Popular Art of El Salvador opened its doors in San Salvador in 2001 and it’s run by a non-profit organization. It focuses on popular art and traditions of El Salvador and it now houses over 1100 objects and documents related to this topic.
One of the museum's permanent exhibitions is the Dominga Herrera Hall of Miniatures, named after the creator of the popular art of miniature pottery. It’s interesting that Dominga Herrera appeared in a 1944 issue of the National Geographic magazine and was recognized for her beautiful and creative art.
This type of art is really unique to the culture of El Salvador; there are some small towns like Ilobasco where they specialize in this type of pottery. This is where Dominga Herrera was from.
The Museum of Popular Art in El Salvador also showcases other forms of art such as wood carving from La Palma and San Ignacio, beautiful loom works from San Sebastián and jewelry making from many other Salvadorean artists.
As you can see in all the pictures here, the creativity and skill required to make these miniature pieces of art - all from clay - is just incredible. Be prepared to be amazed by all the exhibitions here!
The museum is located on Avenida San José, unit # 125 in Colonia Centroamerica. It’s very easy to get to by car, here is a small map that shows its location. Bus service is also available in this area of San Salvador, buses # 30A, 30B.The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm. General admission is $1.00 and $0.50 for children. Included in the admission cost is the option of making your own piece of art with clay.
Visiting these museums is a great way to start learning about the culture of El Salvador, be sure to keep these places in mind when planning a vacation to El Salvador.
Want to know about other things to do in San Salvador or the rest of the country? Do you like the beach? Read about all the things you can do at the beach in El Salvador.
There's so much to do here and the best thing is that visiting El Salvador won't break your bank account!
Related Topics...
Shopping in El Salvador - Great shopping centers...
Cuscatlán Park - An green oasis in San Salvador...
El Boquerón - A beautiful National Park...
Children Activities - What to do with the kids...
The Beaches Tour - Enjoy and sunbathe on the awesome beaches...
The Archaeology Tour - Explore the ancient ruins...
The Artisan Tour - Beautiful arts and crafts...
The Tour of a Thousand Summits - Awesome cloud forests, and protected areas...
The Flowers Tour - See the natural beauty of El Salvador...
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