Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman archaeological site in Morocco and one of the finest in North Africa, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Founded on an earlier Berber and Carthaginian settlement, it grew into a prosperous provincial city of Roman Mauretania, its wealth built on the olive oil and grain of the fertile Zerhoun plain that still surrounds it. At its height it may have held several thousand inhabitants.
Spread across an open hillside about 30 km north of Meknes, the ruins are remarkable for how much survives in situ. The triumphal arch of Caracalla, the columns of the basilica and capitol, the Decumanus Maximus main street and the outlines of grand town houses all remain legible. The real treasures, though, are the floor mosaics: intact, vividly detailed scenes of gods, hunts and mythological tales, left in the open air within the houses they once decorated. After Rome withdrew, the city was inhabited for centuries and was later damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake before excavation revealed it again.
There is almost no shade on the site and the ground is uneven, so hats, water and sturdy shoes matter. With a private driver you can leave Meknes early to walk the ruins before the midday heat, engage a licensed on-site guide to bring the mosaics to life, and continue straight to Moulay Idriss without waiting on a group schedule.
Highlights
- The triumphal Arch of Caracalla anchoring the main street
- Intact, vivid floor mosaics like the House of Orpheus and Labours of Hercules
- The columned basilica and capitol at the civic heart of the city
- The Decumanus Maximus lined with the ruins of merchant houses
- Open hilltop views across the green Zerhoun plain and olive groves
- Storks nesting atop the ancient columns in spring
Best Time to Visit
Spring for green surrounding hills, or arrive right at opening in summer to beat the exposed midday heat.