Sucre: Museums, Architecture and Santa Ana

Sucre combines historic architecture with collections that tell stories of independence and European decorative arts. Because of its exceptional historical and architectural value, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. History enthusiasts will find a range of ways to explore it here: from furniture and decorative objects to an important document of independence and stories from the Barrio Santa Ana.

Museums and History in Sucre

The Museo Dr. Alfredo Gutiérrez Valenzuela displays European furniture and decorative objects from the 18th to the 20th century. They belonged to Dr. Alfredo Gutiérrez Valenzuela. This broad time span offers a perspective on different periods of European decorative arts: furniture and decorative objects can be considered as different forms of design, rather than limiting the collection to a single century.

The Casa de la Libertad preserves and displays the original Declaration of Independence of Alto Perú, as well as contemporary portraits of Simón Bolívar, Antonio José de Sucre and José Ballivián. The document and the three portraits offer different perspectives on history: a political text sits alongside visual depictions of important figures. This allows visitors to focus on specific objects rather than viewing history solely as a sequence of names and dates.

The Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR offers visitors free museum guides in English, French and German. They are also offered coffee and various mate drinks as a courtesy. As visitor services may change, please check these offerings before your visit.

A Walking Tour and Stories in the Barrio Santa Ana

In December 2022, the city administration opened a tourist walking tour in the Barrio Santa Ana. The route went to the Palacete «El Guereo» (1892), the Museo Convento de La Recoleta, the Capilla Tata Solano, the Callejones de los Gatos and the Museo de Tanga Tanga. The neighborhood thus brought together a variety of stops: a palacete, a convent museum, a chapel, alleyways and a museum. The legend of the Duendes de la Penka was also presented during the tour.

Stories also featured at the Museo de Tanga Tanga: during a tour of the Barrio Santa Ana, city guides there told visitors about a treasure said to be hidden in the depths of Cerro Churuquella. The story sits alongside the legend of the Duendes de la Penka as another storytelling perspective on this tour. In 2023, the municipal tourism and heritage preservation departments also held cultural heritage workshops at the Museo de Niños Tanga Tanga for elementary school children from educational institutions in the municipality.

Sucre and the Wider Destination of Chuquisaca

Sucre can also be viewed in its historical context within the wider destination of Chuquisaca: Bolivia’s first capital was founded by the Spanish in the first half of the 16th century. Well-preserved religious buildings dating from the 16th century include San Lázaro, San Francisco and Santo Domingo. They illustrate the blending of local building traditions with styles introduced from Europe. The architecture thus complements museum visits with a look at architectural forms and cultural influences.

Another regional theme is the Ruta del Vino y del Singani de Altura. It encompasses inter-Andean valleys in Tarija, the Cintis region of Chuquisaca, and Potosí, including the valley of Cotagaita and Vitichi. The tourism offering is based primarily on growing grapes and processing them into related products. This regional context differs thematically from the museums and historic buildings in Sucre.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Sucre, you can focus your stay on the subjects that interest you most: collections, architecture, city history or the stories from Santa Ana. If you would also like to explore wine and singani, consider the wider destination of Chuquisaca as well.

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