If you love delving into history as well as uncovering tales of legends, then the Bardo Museum is definitely the place to head to when in Tunisia. Apart from housing the world’s biggest collection of Roman mosaics, it also offers a unique perspective of other ancient cultures, kingdoms and civilisations.
Getting there
The museum can be found around 4 km from the city centre, easy to reach for those staying at centrally located Tunisia resorts. Check beforehand the exact opening hours on the day of your visit; generally, it’s between 9 am and 5 pm or 9.30 am and 4.30 pm, easily accessible if holidaying at such properties as The Residence Tunis by Cenizaro.
The building
The building that houses the Bardo Museum is a historic treasure itself; it was once a Beylic palace and dates back to the 15th century. It was later fortified by the Ottomans and now offers a stunning setting in which to view the varied exhibits.
Finding your way
Featuring relics, artefacts, mosaics, sculptures, jewellery, coins, statues and more from various excavations, the museum’s collection is truly epic. You will find items relating to Phoenician-Punic culture, the Roman world, Numidia and Islam each offering a unique perspective of the respective time periods.
Highlights
There are many highlights at the Bardo Museum; these include a “Hermaion” altar from the Mousterian period, a Campanian warrior’s armour made from solid gold, a marble statue of Apollo dating back to the 2nd century and ancient funerary furnishings from the Mediterranean.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
