374423 4 Location 534903 <p>There can't be many museums in Peru finer than Larco Herrera.</p><p>It has an amazingly extensive collection, mostly of ceramics, but also including textiles, jewelry, crowns and weapons. Many of the well preserved pieces come from the pre-Incan Mochika culture. In addition to the well organized displays, visitors can enter the museum's giant storeroom, which houses shelf after shelf of art and archaeology. Though the museum is somewhat expensive, (by Peruvian standards) it is worth the price. </p><p>Also, it is worth paying extra to get a guide. We had a lovely young lady named Monica, who knew an amazing amount about the collection. Her English was superb as well. If memory serves, the museum is about 30 soles and a guide is another 25 for the group. In addition, the museum grounds are beautiful. </p><p>There are amazing cacti and tropical flowers. There is a cafe there, as well as a couple stores (I can't comment on these, though).</p><p>One of the museums highlights is the Sala Erotica, packed to the hilt with the erotic art of several pre-Incan cultures. Some of it is very serious, and was used it fertility rituals, other pieces are, as Monica said, "optimistic." However, it&nbsp;was relieving to see that Peruvians 3,500 years ago still had their minds about the same place mine usually is -- the gutter!</p> 2006-08-20T12:34:18-07:00 1094713348 2006-07-29T17:00:00-07:00 0 18 221862 2008660 374423 0 195867 0.0 2006-07-27T17:00:00-07:00 Published 0.0 2006-09-02T02:14:29-07:00 53850 0