Last updated on January 26, 2024.

While exploring the historic city center of the “White City” of Popayán, there are a few interesting museums to pop into. The only negative is that you have to be a Spanish speaker to get anything out of them.

 

Mosquera House Museum

The first museum we visited was the Mosquera House Museum (Casa Museo Mosquera). This was the former home of General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, a four-time president of Colombia in the 1800s. It features historical items from the personal collection of the general and his brother, Archbishop Manuel José Mosquera, along with some colonial art. Admission is free (as of September 2023). The museum is open daily except Mondays from 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm.

Entrance to the Mosquera House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Entrance to the Mosquera House Museum
Courtyard of the Mosquera House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Courtyard
Mosquera House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Mosquera House Museum

 

Guillermo Valencia National Museum

Around the corner, we stopped into the Guillermo Valencia National Museum (Museo Nacional Guillermo Valencia). This beautiful home was built in the 19th century and later became property of poet, writer, and politician Guillermo Valencia Castillo. The museum is open daily except Mondays from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. Admission is free (as of September 2023).

Guillermo Valencia National Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Guillermo Valencia National Museum
Courtyard

A mandatory guided tour of the home takes you through several rooms of the house with authentic furnishings, photos, and belongings of the Valencia family. It ends at a balcony with the family crypt and excellent views of the Humilladero Bridge (Puente del Humilladero).

Family crypt at the Guillermo Valencia National Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Family crypt
Garden in front of the museum

 

Guillermo León Valencia House Museum

Valencia’s son, Guillermo León Valencia, was president of Colombia from 1962 to 1966. His home is also a museum. There are a couple rooms dedicated to his life and his tomb is in the courtyard. The Guillermo León Valencia House Museum (Casa Museo Guillermo León Valencia) is open daily except Mondays with the same hours as the father’s home. Admission is free (as of September 2023).

Guillermo León Valencia House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Guillermo León Valencia House Museum
Tomb at the Guillermo León Valencia House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Tomb
Guillermo León Valencia House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Guillermo León Valencia House Museum

 

Other Museums

Two museums I didn’t visit are the Negret House Museum (Casa Museo Negret), featuring modern art by Popayán-born artist Édgar Negret Dueñas, and the Natural History Museum (Museo de Historia Natural), which supposedly is one of the best of its kind in Colombia. Admission to the Natural History Museum is COP$4,000 (as of September 2023) and it’s open daily except Mondays. The Negret House Museum is free (as of September 2023).

Negret House Museum in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Negret House Museum

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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