Ingenio San Marcos Museum
Museo Ingenio San Marcos
A well-preserved colonial silver-smelting mill with water-powered grinding machinery and an on-site restaurant.
At the height of Potosí's boom, more than a hundred 'ingenios' (smelting mills) lined the river valley south of the city. Water wheels drove stone mills to crush the ore, and the silver was then extracted using mercury amalgamation. San Marcos is the best-preserved of them. After restoration, its stone channels, water wheels and crushing machinery are on display, and the exhibits explain the entire process of turning ore into silver bars. Inside is a good restaurant where you can dine between ancient stone walls. Admission is low, and it is within walking distance southeast of the old town.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–22:00 (restaurant hours)
Nearby sights
- Church and Convent of San Francisco
- Church of San Martín
- Potosí Cathedral
- Plaza 10 de Noviembre
- Casa Nacional de Moneda
- Arco de Cobija
- Mercado Central
- Torre de la Compañía de Jesús