Overview
The Bardo Museum was first formally inaugurated on 7 May 1888 (photo of the dedication) under the designation of the Aloui Museum, a name it took from the then reigning Bey (king) Ali Bey the Third (1882-1902). Sixty-eight years later, in March 1956, it was renamed the " the Bardo National Museum ", a name it still retains today.
The museum building is listed as a "historical monument" by a decree. It is a 19th century Bey (royal) palace which reflects a decoration combining various influences of the Mediterranean cultures of the time: Andalusian-Moorish, Ottoman, with a prominent Italian influence.
Following the museum's renovation and extension project (2009-2012), the surface area has been almost doubled, including a new, modern wing, the ground floor of which is remarkable for its entrance hall featuring the imposing mosaic of the Triumph of Neptune, which has become the museum's icon, and a large area dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
The collections are of a great diversity and reflect the whole history of Tunisia, from prehistory to modern times. The collections are displayed on three levels: the ground floor and the two upper floors that make up the palace.
The prehistory room, which is currently being fitted out, will provide an overview of the richness and variety of prehistoric and protohistoric sites in Tunisia.
A Numidian Department is dedicated to the themes of beliefs, religion and Numidian script, influenced by other languages in the different regions, as evidenced by inscriptions and low-relief sculptures.
The area dedicated to the Punic department includes votive offerings dedicated to Baal Hammon and Tanit, the main daities of the Carthaginian pantheon, as well as artifacts made of various materials, which are related to the Punic cult.
Next to it is the Department of the Underwater excavations of the Mahdia wreck, also known as the "Treasure of Mahdia", which contains artifacts from the Hellenistic period discovered in the early 20th century. They are made of bronze, marble and wood (busts of Greek daities, and a bronze statue of Agon).
But the collection that makes the museum so famous is undoubtedly the mosaic collection, which is notable for its richness and variety. It features themes relating to beliefs and mythology (mythological heroes, gods and goddesses), time and its divisions (the seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer, the calendar: the year, the months, the days, the cosmos, astrology), superstition against the evil eye, sacrifices to the gods, monotheistic religions (Jewdaism and Christianity). Daily life holds a special place on these mosaics, marine life: fishing, maritime trade, a boat catalogue, rural life: large estates, pleasure villas, wild game hunting, sports and leisure activities, etc.).
The Museum also houses an important collection of sculptures which gives life to the Carthage room and to the palace cisterns, where sarcophagi are put on display.
As for the Islamic department, which is famous especially for its collection of pages from the Blue and the Hadhina (the nurse) Korans, it shows the Raqqada and Qallaline ceramics including both decoration tiles and crockery.
On March 18th, 2021, the Treasure Department, where the internationally outstanding archaeological finds are on display, was officially reopened to the public after being closed for six years.
This department has been completely renovated, refurbished and redesigned with a new museography and scenography. The renowned mosaic of the zodiac depicting the 12 zodiac signs and the 7 days of the week, originating from Bir Chana (Zaghouan area) has been restored.
The famous mosaic of the poet Virgil and the two Muses has been returned to its original display location in this Department.
Two new rooms have been added. In the first room, visitors may enjoy the Roman coin treasure of Thysdrus (El Jem) has been put on display for the first time, a showcase of Jewish artifacts, including the two keys to the most ancient synagogue to be discovered in Tunisia, known as the Naro synagogue (Hammam Lif today), as well as a showcase of a set of the Beys’ medals and the portrait of Ali Bey the Third, the museum founder. The second room is dervoted to the exhibition of Punic and Roman jewels as well as women's headdresses embroidered with silver and gold yarns, pearls and precious and semi-precious stones of the modern period coming from various regions of Tunisia. Artefacts on display in the two other rooms include the Punic breastplate (known as the Hannibal breastplate) from Ksour Essef, a bas-relief of the Maenads in the Ecstasy of Dance, a statuette of the infant god Bacchus and bas-reliefs of female athletes discovered at the archaeological site of Dougga.
A new room is being fitted out to house a treasure that was discovered in Chimtou (north-west Tunisia). Weighing approximately 7,200 kg, this treasure is made up of 1,647 gold coins and one gold plated silver coin.
For the past four years, the Museum has hosted Les Nuits du Bardo (The Bardo Nights), an annual event which takes place during the holy month of Ramadan. It consists of 3 to 4 musical events performed by Tunisian musicians and troupes.
In addition to various other services made available to the public, the Agency for the Development of Heritage and Cultural Promotion and the National Heritage Institute have also launched two new products: the "Bardo UP" Augmented Reality application on Smartphone and tablets, devoted for New Technology fans and laser printed items replicating mosaics and sculptures, for the blind and the visually impaired.
The the "Bardo UP" application may be downloaded from Play Store.
