With its unparalled collection of mosaics, the Bardo Museum is sometimes likened to the Louvre for its breadth and quality. Most of the mosaics were commissioned between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD to adorn the sumptuous villas of wealthy citizens throughout Tunisia. The rooms of the Bardo are named after the places from which the mosaics were found - such as the Dougga Room, Bulla Regia Room, and so on. Like the Louvre, trying to see and fully appreciate all the pieces can be overwhelming if not impossible.
In addition to the fine mosaics, the Bardo Museum also has sections covering the Punic, early Christian, and Islamic periods. The architecture of the palace itself is worthy of attention. I kept finding myself looking up at the ceilings. The Virgil Room architecture is particularly beautiful, complementing its star attraction.
The Bardo Museum is located about 4 km from the Tunis city center, in the suburb of Bardo. It occupies the former Bardo Palace, official residence of the Husseinite beys. The present palace was built at the end of the 17th century and became a museum in 1888.