Tunisia Museum Reopens After Deadly Attack That Claimed 22 Lives
The Bardo Museum in Tunis reopened to the public on Monday for the first time following the deadly attack earlier this month that killed 22 people.
A large sign reading 'Welcome to Bardo' in English, Arabic and French was hoisted at the entrance as a small stream of visitors entered the museum.
Close to the entrance, flowers were laid out to honor the victims of the March 18th attack. Flags of different nationalities were also placed nearby as a mark of respect to the departed.
The Bardo Museum has for some time been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and is frequented by visitors of European cruise ships.
It houses more than 8000 works and it is renowned for its many Roman mosaics.
The gruesome attack was considered a major blow to the country's fledgling democracy and the worst attack on civilians in over 13 years.
Extremist gunmen opened fire on foreign tourists as they were descending from their tour bus in front of the museum.
With Tunisia being highly dependent on the tourism industry, many worried if the attack would prevent tourists from visiting the country.
Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik said, "This museum will always hold the story and the passage of this terrible moment we lived, of the victims who fell during this terrorist attack. Now we want to see the positive - Tunisia is open to visitors."
Lebanese tourist Vola Abboud said, "When you see this special art people did, the people's history, when they loved the art and architecture, and now you see the 'ugly people,' this is what they did. ... I feel the spirits of the people who died, their souls."
