Hello everyone,
Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting Oualili. I set off from Meknes, my home town, which is only about 30 kilometres from this exceptional historic site. A place where every vestige bears witness to a glorious past. Located in the Fès-Meknès region, Oualili, also known as Volubilis, is one of Morocco's archaeological wonders and a veritable treasure trove from the Roman era!
Before arriving in Volubilis, I took the time to walk around this magnificent ancient city. Nature in this region is quite simply extraordinary! Frankly, you can't help but admire the intelligence of the Romans who chose this place to settle. They knew what they were doing, because this place is simply perfect. With its lush green hills, plains that stretch as far as the eye can see and clean air that gently caresses the face, it's easy to see why they fell in love with this place.
Every detail in this place seemed to whisper stories of the past, tales of life. You really have to be here to understand how special this corner of the world is. It's a blend of history and natural beauty that leaves a lasting impression on the heart.
Here I am at the main entrance to Oualili, but before I show you the photos inside, let me tell you a bit about Volubilis!
On a beautiful hill located 3 km from the town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun (the historic town about which I recently wrote a post), rises majestically Volubilis, a Roman city almost a thousand years old. This exceptional site is packed with historic monuments such as the Triumphal Arch of Caracalla, the Capitol and many others. These remains tell the story of the creative genius of the people who have occupied this place through the ages.
Volubilis was founded in the 1st century AD. Several civilisations have succeeded one another here, including the Amazigh, Roman and Islamic civilisations. Under certain dynasties, the city even served as a capital. It also bears witness to a remarkable religious cohabitation, where paganism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism have coexisted, making this place a symbol of openness and cultural diversity.
Morocco can be proud of this monument, which offers a valuable insight into its ancient history. Volubilis bears witness to the depth of the country's history and, in its own way, sums up the history of humanity as a whole. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, confirming its universal importance.
Tangier Gate
The Tangier Gate takes its name from its past function: it was one of the main entrances to Volubilis, facing north and the famous city of Tangier. Just imagine for a moment the caravans of merchants, Roman soldiers and even anonymous travellers who passed through this archway, each with their own stories and hopes. It was a veritable gateway to commercial and cultural exchanges between Volubilis and the rest of the Roman Empire.
House of Venus
This house is called so due to the gorgeous mosaic the triclinium is decorated with. It is distinguished by its magnificent mosaic floors.
The aqueduct
The supply of water to the city passed through the aqueduct, rebuilt and restored over and over throughout history. The houses, public baths, and fountains were supplied through secondary canals branching off from the aqueduct.
The Gordian Palace
This big residential house covering an area of 4488 square meters, was rebuilt under the reign of the Emperor Gordian in the 3rd A.D. between 238 and 244.
The House of Wild Animals!
House of the bathing nymphes
This house is called so due to the mosaic representing Diana, the goddess of the Hunt, bathing with nymphes. The same mosaic ornates one of the rooms in the house called the house of Venus in Volubilis.
House of Dionysos and the four seasons
This house is called so due to the mosaic representing Dionysos in the centre surrounded with the muses and portraits representing the four seasons.
The main boulevard
This boulevard is considered to be the largest and most important in the city. It forms a central axis linking the north and south façades through a network of alleys and secondary streets. The boulevard runs in an almost straight line from the Porte de Tanger to the Caracalla Arch. This stretch is not only an essential thoroughfare for locals and visitors alike, but also plays a key role in the city's urban organisation. Flanked by historic buildings and points of interest, it illustrates the dynamism and history of this heritage-rich city.
The house of the labours of Hercules
Of an irregular plan, this house opens over secondary cardo, unlike the other houses of the north-east district. Its reception room is decorated with a mosaic with different subjects: the kidnapping of Ganymede, the twelve labours of Hercules, and the Four Seasons.
To be continued ...
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Photos taken by my own phone (Samsung Galaxy A04s).
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Hiya, @lauramica here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2393.
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