Peru celebrates the recovery of 552 cultural artifacts repatriated from Germany, Argentina, Austria, Canada, and the US, a result of joint efforts by the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs and
Culture, as well as diplomatic efforts by Peruvian embassies and consulates in those countries.
During a ceremony at the Lima-based Torre Tagle Palace, Minister in the Diplomatic Service (SDR) Carlos Amezaga Rodriguez, Director General of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, handed over these pieces to Fernando Lazarte Mariño, Director General for the Defense of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture.
Among the recovered artifacts, a collection of historical documents from the 18th and 19th centuries stands out, offering valuable insight into Peru's political, social, and economic evolution.
Notably, the collection includes "El Sol y Año Feliz del Perú" (The Sun and Happy Year of Peru) (1735) by Pedro Rodriguez Guillen, a work that recounts the canonization of Saint Francis Solano, a significant religious and cultural milestone of the colonial era.
Additionally, the repatriation features ceramics, textiles, and metal objects from various pre-Hispanic cultures, along with colonial-era coins and two 18th-century religious paintings, all in excellent condition.
The ceremony not only celebrated this significant recovery but also aimed to raise awareness about the damage caused by the theft, trafficking, and illegal trade of cultural assets.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Peru's historical legacy, expressing gratitude for the cooperation of foreign authorities that made this important repatriation possible.
(END) NDP/JMP/MVB
Published: 2/9/2025