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Tunisia: Tunisia Art / Culture Profile

2012/04/05

The art of Tunisia is based primarily on Persian and Egyptian design as adopted by the Arabs. However, Roman and Byzantine influence shows in much of Tunisia's early Islamic architecture—for example, the Mosque of the Three Doors in Kairouan and the ribat (monastery-fortress) in Sousse. Later influences were those of Moorish Spain, brought by refugees when the Moors were expelled, and of Italy, with which Tunisia has had much contact. Turkish design was added in the 16th century when Ottoman corsairs gained control of the region.

Since independence the Tunisians have largely rejected the European culture imposed on them during the French protectorate and have returned to their own traditional styles. They are especially noted for their handicraft products—knotted carpets, silver and gold embroidery, metal filigree, and hand-woven fabrics.

The Tunisians price their ancient heritage, and a lot of of the country's outstanding museums are devoted to antiquities. Part these are museums at Tunis, Sousse, and the site of Carthage. There is a large Roman amphitheater at El Djem. The Tunisians price their ancient heritage, and a lot of of the country's outstanding museums are devoted to antiquities. Part these are museums at Tunis, Sousse, and the site of Carthage. There is a large Roman amphitheater at El Djem.

Tunisia Museums: National Bardo museum

The former Alaoui museum, created in 1882, this museum occupies the buildings of an old beylical palace of the XIXth century. It is apart from the city, in the space ranging between Ariana and Manouba, dominated by the hill of the Belvedere, that the sovereigns who followed one another since the XIIth century had chosen to establish their rich residences, in a palace, parks and gardens irrigated by the aqueduct which one can still see the vestiges.
Current Bardo museum is the richest one in the world with its collection of Roman mosaics (approximately 90000m²). The collections are presented by department: prehistory, Punic era, roman, Christian, Arab-Moslem woman?
Opened every day except Monday of 9h30 with 16h00 (winter), of 9h with 17h (be), paying entrance.

Carthage National museum

This museum, on the hill of Byrsa, joins together the product of the excavations since the XIXth century. Showrooms for the period’s Punic, roman, paleochrétienne, Arab Moslem woman. Reserves of collections: mosaics, architectures, sculptures, inscriptions, ceramics and menus objects.
3 libraries devoted to the ancient period. A conference room. A restoration and maintenance of object laboratory. A deposit of the archaeological material of the international excavation campaign. An edition of an annual news bulletin (CEDAC).
In addition to the museum and its environment close including to the Punic and roman vestiges released and emphasized, the archaeological park of carthage includes, with the hill of Birsa, certain monuments or sets worth visiting: the Magon district, port Punic, the tophet-sanc-tuary of Tanit and Baal Hammon, thermal baths of Antonym, roman villas of Odeon, the amphitheatre, the museum pale Chrétien, cisterns of Malaga, the basilica of Damous Karita and that of saint Cyprian, the building with columns.

Ceramic museum

Mausoleum of sidi kacem jellizi, located at the crossroads of Bab sidi kacem and the boulevard 9 avril. It is an homage to this saint man, whose history reports that he was a manufacturer of ceramics squares from where its name, that this mausoleum was built in the XVth century. Built on the high part of the medina, the sight extends beyond Sejoumi and other side includes all the panorama of Tunis and the city.
Since 1981, this building shelters an old ceramics collection and presents, in addition to the harmony of the restored building, a epigraphic collection of old funerary steles.
Opened every day from 8h to 18h, except Monday and bank holidays, free entry.

Museum of medina

Zitouna mosque: historical monument of first importance, located at the heart of medina, merges with the birth of town of Tunis into 698. Opened every day except Friday from 8h to 12h (winter), from 8h to 13h (be), paying entrance.
Museum of the currency, rue de la monnaie, in the hall of the central bank.
Collection of old and modern pieces. Open from 8h to 12h and from 14h to 17h30, free entry.
Memorial of martyrs of sejoumi

Created on April 9, 1982, the memorial is equipped with a audio-visual system for film projection recalling the fight of national release. Open from 9h to 16h, free entry.

Museum of traditional inheritance

By tourbet el bey or the souk of the Dyers. Inaugurated in 1978, the museum is located in the full centre of the old rich district of the medina in this vast bourgeois residence of the XVIIIth century. Dar Ben Abdullah presents the architecture and the typical organisation of this type of dwelling. A varied collection of domestic objects, costumes, jewels, and old furniture is exposed in reconstituted decorations. A room is reserved for the horse and the rider.
Open every day from 9h30 to 16h30, except Sunday, paying entrance, free Friday.

Postal museum

Rue Gamel Abdelnasser. Stamp collection issued by Tunisia and old transmission apparatus. Open from 8h30 to 12h30 and from 14h30 to 17h30, free entry.
Oceanographic museum
Punic port Salammb?. Open every day from 14h30 to 17h30 except Monday and feast days; paying entrance.

Sidi Zitouni popular art and traditions museum

Created in 1968, this museum installed in the mausoleum of sidi zitouni, outside Houmt Souk, presents collections of formal Jewish and Moslem dresses and of well-presented jewels, a reconstitution of workshop of potter, a provision room with its utensils and old furniture.

Open every day except Friday, from9h30 to 16h30, and paying entrance.

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