If you are a visitor to Bahrain, or even a resident who would like to know a little more about what makes Bahrain tick, then a trip to the National Museum is essential. Situated on the intersection of the Muharraq Causeway and King Faisal Highway, it houses a wonderful collection of exhibits, from contemporary Bahraini paintings, sculptures and ceramics to scenes depicting life in the Dilmun civilization of 6000 years ago and even a reconstructed burial mound, complete with skeleton! A section on Arabic calligraphy, including a beautiful display of illuminated Korans and other religious documents, is breathtaking, and of course no visit would be complete without a closer look traditional trades and crafts which been cleverly displayed in a reconstruction of a typical soukh of the 1930s. There are also photographs and models of pearling exhibitions and artefacts to represent the former source of Bahrain wealth before the advent of oil.Many, many more exhibits add up to a memorable experience, and a deeper understanding of the fascinating history of the island.