Guatemala City [1]’s most fabulous museum (6a Calle Final Zona 10, tel. 2331-3739, www.museoixchel.org [2], 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sat., $3.50 adults, $2 students), on the grounds of the Francisco Marroquín University is dedicated to Mayan culture with an emphasis on weaving and traditional costumes.
It’s housed in a beautiful brick building built to resemble a Mayan huipil, or hand-woven, embroidered blouse. On display are Pre- Hispanic objects, photographs, hand-woven fabrics, ceremonial costumes, weaving tools, and folk paintings by Guatemalan artist Andrés Curruchich.
You’ll find interactive multimedia displays, a café, bookstore, and huipiles for sale in the excellent gift shop. Displays are in English and Spanish. This museum is a must-see for anyone with even a casual interest in Mayan weaving, as it manages to condense the country’s rich weaving heritage spanning a fairly vast geographical range into a single place with excellent displays and an attractive setting.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/guatemala/guatemala-city
[2] http://www.museoixchel.org