Volubilis

Volubilis is a Roman archaeological site near Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, about 30 kilometres north of Meknès in Morocco. The settlement existed before Rome, with Mauretanian and Punic roots, but it grew into a significant Roman city after the annexation of the kingdom of Mauretania in the 1st century AD, becoming a major centre of the province of Mauretania Tingitana. Its prosperity came from the olive oil trade, and the remains of many olive presses can be seen among the ruins. The city reached its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, when it was filled with large villas, a forum, a basilica, a capitol, baths and a triumphal arch built in 217 AD in honour of the emperor Caracalla. Roman administration withdrew from the area at the end of the 3rd century, but the city continued to be inhabited and later served as an early centre for the Idrisid dynasty. The site contains some of the best-preserved Roman mosaics in North Africa, which remain in place in several houses, including the House of Orpheus, the House of the Labours of Hercules, the House of the Nymphs and the Dionysus house with scenes of the god and the four seasons. Columns, bases and walls of the forum and basilica still stand, and the triumphal arch was restored in the 20th century. Excavations began in the early 20th century under French archaeologists and continued after independence. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 caused heavy damage, and stone from the site was reused for buildings in Meknès. UNESCO inscribed Volubilis on the World Heritage List in 1997. The site is open daily with hours that change by season, admission is about 70 MAD, and there is little shade, so visits are best made in the morning or late afternoon.