Volubilis

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Volubilis Archaeological Site

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midtownmjd
midtownmjd
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5 out of 5
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Truly Impressive Ruins

  • June 27, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by midtownmjd from New York, New York
Truly Impressive Ruins

The Roman ruins at Volubilis compose one of the best archaeological sites I’ve visited, ever. Located a couple of hours’ drive from Fez, close to Meknes, and just below Moulay Idriss, they’re a convenient stop for any visitor to north Morocco.

It’s easy to see why, in 1997, they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Well preserved, beautifully situated, and expansive, the ruins are known as one of the best preserved examples of a Roman-empire town.

My group met up with a guide hired through our original Morocco guide. The downpour dampened our spirits a bit, but not his; Rashid was incredibly cheerful and injected a lot of humor into the tour (which may not be so difficult when a site is littered with ancient phallic symbols and innuendo). There’s no need to arrange for a guide ahead of time, as there were several available at the site’s entrance.

The rain did cause us to rush the tour a bit, but it didn’t take away from the beauty of the landscape, which is reminiscent of Tuscany, but with agave plants. I should note that the mud at the site is the stickiest mud I’ve ever encountered. It stuck to my sneakers with every step, making walking a huge effort. It was really strange, actually, and I’m pretty sure that my shoes will never be the same.

The benefit of the rainstorms was that they cleaned off the Volubilis mosaics, which are the site’s real highlight and are better preserved and larger than any mosaics in Italy or Greece. Even after 2,000 years they remain colorful and, impressively, all are originals and have not been restored.

There are intact baths, arches, and many rooms for wandering, but the other highlight was the "main drag," a grand avenue that reminded me of the Champs-Elysees. The site is absolutely worth visiting, and so big that I’d imagine you could spend quite a few hours there—on a sunny day.

From journal Morocco: Medinas and Mezze

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