Raqqada National Museum of Islamic Art, Islamic art museum in Raqqada, Tunisia
The Raqqada National Museum of Islamic Art is a museum featuring collections of objects from the 9th to 10th centuries, including ceramics, coins, manuscripts, and textiles. The displays show how craftsmanship from this period expressed itself across different materials and forms.
The museum was established in 1986 on the site of a former Aghlabid capital that flourished as a center for textile and paper production during the 9th century. This heritage shaped the crafts and artistic traditions that the collection now preserves.
The collection features manuscripts with detailed calligraphy that shows how written words held both spiritual and artistic meaning in Islamic tradition. Visitors can observe how texts were decorated with gold and pigments to honor their sacred purpose.
Plan to spend time exploring the different galleries and object types at a relaxed pace, since the collection is organized into thematic sections. Taking time with each section helps you appreciate the craftsmanship and variations in the displayed works.
A large water basin near the museum dates from when this area had a royal water system with sophisticated engineering. The surviving structures reveal the technical knowledge earlier inhabitants possessed in managing and storing water.
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