Tunisia: Famous Bardo Museum Opens To Public

It took two years of hard work to restore the building and completely reconstruct many exhibition halls of the historical Tunisian Bardo Museum, one of the most prestigious not only in Africa, but throughout the world. The museum closed on July 25, 2021, much to the disappointment of local visitors and foreign tourists. And now, after more than two years of closure, on September 14, the Bardo Museum, famous for its very rich collection of mosaics from the Roman era, finally opened its doors to the public.

The opening was preceded by an official ceremony chaired by Tunisian Minister of Culture Hayet Guettat Guermazi. Among the guests, representatives of the authorities of the North African country and diplomats, was the Italian Ambassador to Tunisia Fabrizio Saggio.

The Tunisian Ministry of Culture emphasized that “restoration work has recovered the original historical appearance of 29 Roman mosaics, two sculptures, and three other engravings in the Uzna Hall, the renovation of 22 mosaic panels of different sizes in the Altepirus Hall, and the restoration of 13 mosaics raised on an illuminated structure intended for temporary exhibitions in the Susa Hall were carried out.” Tunisian authorities hope that the opening of the Bardo Museum will significantly help increase the flow of tourists to the country. A visit to the museum has always been a “must” stop, a real necessity for the thousands of cruise passengers arriving at Port de la Goulette.

There are also those who hope that the cultural event can at least slightly improve the very tense relations between the European Union and Tunisia, which on September 13 refused entry into the country of a European Parliament delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee. The purpose of the delegation’s mission was to “understand the current political situation in the country, support an inclusive national dialogue, and evaluate the memorandum of understanding signed by the EU and Tunisia.”