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Museo del Oro

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Metayel
Metayel
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
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6
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Editor Pick

Museo del Oro

  • August 16, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Kiryo from Chicago, Illinois
Museo del Oro

El Museo del Oro

An entrance fee of approximately US$2 stood in the way between a camera lens and the world’s leading collection of gold artifacts ranging in time from the last millennium until recent history. Obviously not an issue, the entrance to this building that faces Plaza Santander is well-controlled by armed security for a simple reason: crowd control… to the gift shop! Many excellent gold replicas are sold out of the small gift shop on the first floor. Thieves would have an extremely hard time stealing from this museum due to the extra thick walls and fortified glass material that separates spectator from gold. The security staff themselves appear to have received the same or a similar training program from the museum staff, as they are rather knowledgeable in the history behind the major artifacts in the entire museums, and they often receive thanks from many patrons due to their suggestions on parts of the museum to visit on a tight time budget.

Further from gold, this museum also collects a massive selection of clay art pieces characteristic of the many cultures represented in the exhibits’ sections. Included in the panels and glass displays are archaeological representations of how we think many of the now defunct cultures adorned themselves as well as how the gold was elaborated to such minute details by these “primitives” that mostly succumbed to Spanish colonialism (note the “sarcasm”). Tours are offered by museum staff, as well as audio listening devices, making this museum a must see for many nationalities that are represented in the visitors’ passports.

El Museo del Oro is much like a Disney World of Museums in terms of the amount of time needed to fully appreciate the collections inside. One day s simply not enough to catch all the Muisca details in the Muisca Raft in the dark Muisca pavilion on the top floor, or all of the ceremonial gold used by Amazon basin groups. However, if one day is the only amount of time you can dedicate to seeing these collections, do not miss the strong room on the top floor… the doors themselves are impressive and I won’t tell you how! Best to come alone or in a pair… you’ll see and hear what I mean!

As in other Bogotá-area museums… photography is not only simply allowed but rather encouraged! So a digital camera with a hefty memory card will most definitely suit your shutterbug instincts. And with the thousands upon thousands of pieces to view here, it will be difficult editing your collection later on.

The museum’s basement also has a small movie screen that shows weekly films dedicated to the preservation of the existing cultures as well as stimulating cultural awareness in those that are no longer present in human society.

From journal Santa Fé de Bogotá

Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum)

  • March 8, 2001
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Metayel from Rishon Le-Zion, Israel
It is said to be the best of its kind. Thousands of gold artifacts from various precolombian nations. Very interesting with a lot of explanations about these cultures and not only about the gold it self. No photos allowed inside so you will probably end up buying a couple of postcards.

From journal Viva Colombia!

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