Valparaiso museums…well two anyway * Sixtyexpress

Today we will see more of Valparaiso without climbing the stairs. I heard that cheer. Some of the beautiful houses have been donated as museums. The first is the Fonck museum which specialises in artefacts done Easter Island and rural Chile

The Museum has an extensive collection of artefacts from the Easter Island. This is because the Easter Island is considered to be under the jurisdiction of the Chile Navy and Valparaiso. I didn’t know how the figures got to the final positions or that they represented ancestors.It is thought that they were carved from the head down , lifted with logs and slid into position using ropes.

These are scary figures. They are supposed to represent ghosts.

Now if you commissioned a sculpture by the famous artist, Rodin, you would put it in a prominent place wouldn’t you. No not the Chile Navy. The artist made the figure of the famous naval personality naked so the sculpture has been moved to the Fonck museum.

The museum does have samples of pottery, textiles and jewellery from early cultures living in Chile. They were collected from mortuary tombs.

Ceremonial drum played by a female religious leader.

Do you feel like you know a bit more? Yes it was rushed so it was hard to take it all in at once.

Next museum. Do you remember the decorative building we saw yesterday, the art museum. That’s our next stop.

You thought it was impressive outside, wait till you see inside.

The paintings were interesting too.

Mary Antoinette’s table showing her handmaidens

The clock tower in the church. You can’t see this building now for the buildings that surround it.

The owner made his money in various ventures including selling saltpetre. He originally came from Croatia as a 17 year old and later brought his brothers and their families to live in Valparaiso.

UNESCO declared the building of the British and wealthy Chileans of historical significance. They weren’t what I think of for Victorian buildings. Do you think of terraces or beautiful stone buildings? Me too but although there are a few of those most are not. See what you think.