Musée National du Bardo (Bardo National Museum), Tunis (must see)

Located in the suburbs of Le Bardo, the Bardo Museum is one of the most important museums in the Mediterranean region and the second museum of the African continent after the Egyptian Museum of Cairo by richness of its collections. It traces the history of Tunisia over several millennia and across several civilizations through a wide variety of archaeological pieces.

Housed in an old beylical palace since 1888, it offers a prestigious and magnificent setting for the exhibition of many major works discovered since the beginning of archaeological research in the country, including one of the finest and largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. Some of the displayed works have no equivalent, such as the Virgil Mosaic. Generally, the mosaics of Bardo represent a unique source for research on everyday life in Roman Africa. From the Roman era, the museum also contains a rich collection of marble statues representing the deities and the Roman emperors found on different sites including those of Carthage and Thuburbo Majus.

Starting from June 17, 2014, the museum offers visitors a digital guide in English, French, and Arabic in the form of a free downloadable application for smartphones and visitors can also borrow a free smartphone at the museum entrance. It offers audio commentaries, photo slideshows, and a historical and geographical perspective of the displayed works. Most of the signs for the major mosaics also have Arabic, French, and English descriptions.

Why You Should Visit:
Probably the world's best museum for authentic mosaics. Moreover, the place is well organized, personnel is polite, security is vastly improved, and the atmosphere of the whole place is unique.

Tip:
Don't miss the terracotta mask section and the four-seasons "Neptune" monumental mosaic both on the upper floor.
If you visit during the cold season, bring serious clothing and footwear as the interior is not heated.