Tunisia largest museum, the Bardo National Museum, has reopened its doors to the public after it was closed since President Kais Saied suspended all parliamentary work on July 25th, 2021.
Saied’s decision to shut down the edifice seen as the fulcrum of Tunisian heritage and cultural tourism, was in response to intense violent confrontations between assembly members.
The museum which is housed in a 19th century Ottoman governor’s palace located near the parliament in Tunis, was reopened on Thursday with visitors allowed to view several giant antique mosaic pieces including depictions of the Roman god Neptune and Hercules and his wife, Omphale.
According to Tunisian Culture Ministry, the Bardo’s fame originates from its countless rare artefacts discovered during excavations undertaken in the North African since the XIXth Century.
It is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Tunisia which has been at the crossroads of many of the world’s renowned civilizations.
“It’s different from other museums because it exhibits artefacts, whereas other museums bring in statues from other countries and exhibit them,” a visitor, Selim Yahyaou, told journalists.
“On the other hand, we have everything at our feet and that is of great value compared with other museums in the world,” Yahyaou said.
During the closure, the management of the Bardo used the opportunity to renovate the edifice with several spaces enlarged, and some collections relocated, while new sections were also added, among them one dedicated to Islamic manuscripts.
The Bardo Museum has a tradition of organizing scientific seminars and meetings as well as welcoming young people for workshops with the youths learning more about moulding and Arab calligraphy for instance.