High quality wool and alpaca tapestries, carpets and embroideries can be found in Barrio Santa Ana. You come there following the Av. Grau. A number of family run shops line the Plaza Santa Ana. In most you can see weaving in process, and purchase tapestries. Santa Ana is the main outlet for many of Ayacucho's weavers. The shops on the Plaza Santa Ana typically feature both the work of the owner's family, as well as tapestries, embroideries and other artesania that they purchase from throughout the area. Most of the families with shops on the Plaza Santa Ana have been in the weaving business for several generations. The Santa Ana tapestries are woven on upright looms. The best are made from handspun yarns, and dyed with natural dyes. Many of the motifs are drawn from archaeological textiles. Ayacucho is also known for its eye-popping three dimensional designs. Many of the shops are set up with a typical handicraft store in the front room. It is often necessary to ask to see the better, more expensive tapestries.
GalerÃa Latina
Plazuela de santa ana #105, phone: 528315, e-mail: [email protected], spanish preferred. in the plaza santa ana right opposite the church you can find the galerãa latina, a multi-generation family run gallery that exhibits and sells high quality tapestries from some of ayacucho's best weavers. the family has exhibited their weavings, and those of the weavers featured in their shop, at a number of international handicraft exhibitions in zurich, switzerland. as with many santa ana shops, from outside, galeria latina looks like a usual handicraft store, but if you ask, they will be glad to show you their little carpet exhibition and the weaving rooms in the backrooms. the price for a wall carpet is about us$ 350, but it's worth that money.