TOP 5 MUSEUMS IN TUNISIA FOR THE HISTORY BUFFS

In operation since the late nineteenth century, the Bardo Museum is one of the must-see places to visit in the country. The building stands as a historical monument in itself and boasts one of the world’s most beautiful museums with the impressive collection of Punic jewellery and wide variety of Roman mosaics, the most outstanding being the only known portrait of the Roman poet Virgil.

Located on Byrsa Hill, in what was once the White Fathers Seminary is the Carthage National Museum which holds most of the archaeological material discovered in the city. Also, it is a centre for research, conservation and management of the cultural assets on display. In the museum there are displays of amazing mosaics, architectural fragments, inscriptions, statues, terracotta figurines, ceramics, tiles, metal objects made from different metals, precious stones, and tools made from bone or ivory, among other items. However, the most impressive pieces are the two statues in the Amphitheatre of El Jem, which guard the hall dedicated to Roman culture.

In the heart of Houmt Souk is the Djerba Traditional Heritage Museum, one of the most interesting museums in Tunisia. Also known as the Ethnographic Museum of Sidi Zitouni the museum helps to maintain the awareness and interest in Tunisia’s rich heritage. The visitors can learn here about the local practices and customs such as traditional agriculture, fishing, pottery, the island’s traditional women’s wear, carpentry and local silver and gold artwork. 

The Chemtou Archaeological Museum is the result of 25 years of excavation of the ancient Numidian city of Simithus which later became a Roman city. This museum was built on what was, for thousands of years and up until a few centuries ago, a gold marble quarry – an ideal place for exploring the cultural evolution. During the visit guests can see a sample of regional geology of the Tunisian northwest, the early history of Simithus from 500 to 100 BC, the ancient marble of Simithus, the remains of the Roman city, and funeral monuments.

Another of the most important museums in Tunisia is located right inside the wall of the Kasbah in the coastal city of Sousse. After the Bardo National Museum, this museum has the largest collection of Roman mosaics, dating back to 200 and 500 BC. Also within its walls are sculptures, headstones, tombstones, frescoes, ceramics and other archaeological artefacts of great interest.

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