National Mask Museum

National Mask Museum (Museo Nacional de la Máscara) is in the Zona Centro at Villerías #2, in Plaza Carmen across from the Teatro de la Paz. The museum is housed in an impressively ornate Italianate-style mansion, recently restored, that was built in the 1890s and once belonged to Spanish mining magnate Don Ramon Marti. Permanent exhibits on the first floor include traditional masks representing different historical eras. Many of the masks are placed on fully costumed mannequins to lend a feeling of authenticity.

The restored rooms on the upper level are decorated with period furnishings depicting the wealthy lifestyle enjoyed by the Marti family. Original family heirlooms can be seen in the bedroom, living room, ladies' parlor, men's smoking room, ballroom and chapel. The museum also features temporary exhibits of masks from around the world. Monitors throughout the museum show videos of traditional masked dances in subtitled English, but exhibit background information is in Spanish only.

Guided tours are available. Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.