Archaeological site in Tunisia
Photo: Drew Hess, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dougga is a small town in the north of Tunisia that holds the extensive ruins of a Roman town, set on a hilltop, overlooking surrounding valleys with olive plantations, featured on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It also has several other monuments dating from pre-Roman times. Plan to spend about 2 hours here, and if you have a car, couple it with trips to surrounding areas (ask the security guard at the ticket office for recommendations).
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Built in 168 or 169 CE, is one of the best preserved examples in Roman Africa. It could seat 3500 spectators, and is the first thing one sees on entering the site. From here continue on to the capitol, which has great monolithic columns that cannot be missed.
On the main roads (the broad road to Carthage for example), one can see cut outs for horses not to slip, and holes in the remaining door ways to tie the horses to. Under the roads are the Roman sewers. Various stones on the main road can be lifted up to let the water out in times of flooding.
Tiny building with Roman columns in the interior to the left of the capitol when coming from the theatre.
Note the marks in the floor where the shop doors used to go.
Look out for the markings on the floor with the 12 winds especially the winds bringing rain from the north.
A Roman temple from the 2nd century CE, principally dedicated to Rome's protective triad: Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Juno Regina et Minerva Augusta. Located next to the marketplace and the forum.
Note the statue with the images of four gods on two sides.
Can be seen from far as it is well preserved. On the road towards Theveste, in Algeria (300km).
A little way off, through a grove of olive trees, and there is a sign pointing the way. It is dedicated to Juno Caelestis, the successor of the Punic god Tanit. Its well-preserved temenos is demarcated by a Phoenician wall, a large section of which has been very well preserved. The interior has Roman columns. On the right side is a small pit used for purification in Punic times.
Back on the main road to Carthage is a sanctuary, a temple, a gymnasium? A perfectly preserved door in any case! Two stretches of grass on the inside of this area.
Three rooms for hot, warm and cold baths. In the center of the city area and was used in winter. Two other baths exist, one outside the city center for the summer. Pass through the tunnels where the slaves used to heat the water to get to the three baths. From the room for rest with the metal grids on the floor and the mosaics, climb up the steep steps to get back to the Capitol.
Facing the valley, somewhat halfway between Dar Lacheb and the Mausoleum of Ateban, is the brothel many small chambers around a main court. You can get to it by passing through the smaller theatre that is just below the area towards the valley, upon exiting the steps.
From the brothel, continue back towards the main exit and you'll reach the arch of Septimius Severus two stumps left, but majestic. On the road that leads towards Carthage (120km).
Get a bus (at least two hours) or louage (80 minutes) to Teboursouk (pronounced Tebsook) from Bab Saadoune louage/bus station (Gare de Routiere Nord) in Tunis.
Read in the guideLight sandals might not be the best footwear as the paths are, for the most part, cobbled and can be reasonably steep in places.
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