Tunisia: Dougga Roman Ruins
Dougga Is one of the best preserved ancient Punic and then Roman settlements in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage sure. It is located quite far from the coast and has been originally populated during the Numidia empire in pre-Roman times and then by Romans starting in the second century BC. Unlike many coastal sites in Tunisia and Libya that were urbanized during later centuries, this one stayed unchanged and surprisingly complete and shows a very full picture of what life was like back in those day – there is a theater, temples, large housing area, several squares, forum, roads for chariots, and even a public toilet! The location is also stunning – on top of a large hill with panoramic views of olive groves and wheat fields in all directions. The most interesting building are the Theater and the Capitol, the latter an immense colonnaded temple with a marketplace in front of it. There is also an intact arch of Alexander Septimus, Punic Mausoleum of Ateban, and so much more. The area with houses is almost manhattan-like in its housing concentration. And last but not least – the spectacular public toilet where everyone sat in a semi-circle over holes in a stone ledge, all connected to sophisticated sewage and canalizations system – and a fantastic view while contemplating which emperor to vote for in the upcoming elections.
