Summary
- Leptis Magna in Libya is one of the best preserved Roman cities, founded by ancient Berbers and ruled by Emperor Septimius Severus.
- Timgad in Algeria is a UNESCO-listed city known for its outstanding Roman urban planning and preservation.
- Volubilis in Morocco was a remote Roman frontier city and capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania, with extensive ruins including temples and arches.
The Roman Empire spread across all of North Africa from just beyond the Straits of Gibraltar in Morocco to the Sinai in Egypt. But before the Romans arrived, the Ancient Greeks had already built a number of colonies and cities in Libya and Egypt (and ruled Ptolemaic Egypt for centuries).
Today, this region is full of ancient Greco-Roman sites like Leptis Magna in Libya and refreshing ancient Roman baths in Algeria. Here are some of the best Greco-Roman sites to visit in North Africa.
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Leptis Magna, Libya
Theater at the spectacular ruins of Leptis Magna
Lepits Magna is one of the best preserved ancient Roman cities in the world and was formerly a prominent city of the Carthaginian Empire.
It was founded by ancient Berbers around 1000 BC and grew lavishly during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (193 to 211) – he was born in the city.
- Ancient Civilization: Berber, Carthaginian, Roman
- Remarkable For: One Of The Best Preserved Roman Cities
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Timgad, Algeria
Timgad, ruins of a Roman-Berber city
Timgad has been UNESCO-listed since 1982 for being one of the most outstanding Roman cities to see today.
It was founded by Emperor Trajan around 100 AD, and today, it is noted for being one of the best places to see Roman urban planning.
- Ancient Civilization: Roman
- Remarkable For: Preservation, Urban Planning
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Volubilis, Morocco
Volubilis near Meknes in Morocco
Volubilis was one of the far-flung cities of the Roman Empire that sat on its remote Moroccan frontier. It may have also been the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania and grew under Roman rule from the 1st century AD.
Today, it is it is one one of the best ancient Greco-Roman sites in North Africa to visit; visitors can see extensive ruins, including temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches.
- Ancient Civilization: Berber, Roman
- Remarkable For: Frontier City, Extensive Ruins
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Amphitheater Of El Jem, Tunisia
The Amphitheater of El Jem, Tunisia
The Amphitheater of El Jem rivals the Colosseum in size, beauty, and state of preservation. It is one of the greatest monuments still standing in the ancient Roman world and was one of the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage sites (since 1979).
It was built around 238 AD and could have accommodated around 35,000 spectators (the Colosseum was over 50,000).
- Ancient Civilization: Roman
- Remarkable For: Size, State of Preservation
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Hammam Essalihine, Algeria
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Wikimedia Commons
Roman Baths Of Hammam Essalihine
The Roman baths of Hammam Essalihine must be one of the few ancient Roman baths still in use as they have been for thousands of years and are uncommercialized.
It is very difficult to visit Algeria, and so very few international visitors get to see the many extensive Roman ruins in Algeria. So, for now, the Roman baths of Hammam Essalihine remain a local attraction.
- Ancient Civilization: Roman
- Remarkable For: Un-touristic Roman Baths Still Used By Locals
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Cyrene, Libya
Libya, Cyrene, Ruins of Cyrene
Cyrene is perhaps best known for Simon of Cyrene, who is recorded to have borne the cross of Christ. Cyrene was an ancient Greek colonial city in Libya (which had a large Jewish population at the time).
It was the most important of five Greek cities in the region (called the Pentapolis), and today, the eastern half of Libya is named after it (Cyrenaica).
- Civilization: Greco-Roman, Jewish
- Remarkable For: Greco-Roman Ruins, Excellent Preservation
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Roman Carthage, Tunisia
Roman Theater Carthage Full Performance
When the Romans destroyed Carthage, they were overcome with revenge against their ancient foe. They leveled the ancient city to the ground and swore it should never be rebuilt.
But over time, they did rebuild it, and today, visitors can see the vestiges of Carthaginian and Roman ruins in the ancient city (and watch a traditional Tunisian performance at the restored Roman theater).
- Civilization: Carthage, Roman
- Remarkable For: History, Roman Theater in Use
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Alexandria, Egypt
Sphinx and Pompey’s Pillar in Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great and was the capital of the Hellenist (Greek) Ptolemaic Empire until its absorption into the Roman Empire. During the Roman Empire, the city prospered and was the second-largest city of the empire for a long time.
Today, it is the second-largest city of modern Egypt, and only a few Greco-Roman vestiges remain.
- Civilization: Ptolemaic (Greco-Egyptian), Roman-Egyptian
- Remarkable For: Vestiges of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Historical Importance
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Utica, Tunisia
Roman ruins of Utica in Tunisia
Utica is the forgotten sister city (or rival) of Carthage. It is located only a short drive away and was once one of the most important cities of the region. After the destruction of Carthage, Utica was the most important Roman colony in the region for seven centuries.
Today, the site is deserted, and visitors can see the partially excavated Roman ruins.
- Civilization: Phoenician, Roman
- Remarkable For: Historic Importance To The Region
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Catacombs Of Kom El Shoqafa, Egypt
Kom El Shoqafa
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa in Egypt is a remarkable necropolis near ancient Alexandria from the times of Roman Egypt.
These tombs are remarkable for their mixing of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian styles and are open to the public today. They date from the 2nd century to the 4th century.
- Civilization: Roman Egyptian With Greek Influences
- Remarkable For: Size, Preservation, Cultural Merger
