Zaghouan aqueduct , the Roman Water Temple and The archaeological site of Oudhna are must-visit sites in understanding Tunisia's legendary history. Discover them with an expert English-speaking guide.
Your day trip will begin at 8 am, when you'll be picked up from your hotel in Tunis. After around a thirty minute drive, you'll arrive at the first stop on your itinerary:
The archaeological site of Oudhna is located 30 kilometres south-west of Tunis, in the valley of Oued Miliane, known since Antiquity for its fertile soil. Human occupation of the region dates back to pre-Roman times, but the foundation of the town took place at the end of the first century B.C. when a new colony was created, inhabited by veterans of the 13thRoman legion. This colony, which was named Uthina, reached its peak during the second century AD, especially under Emperor Hadrian. In medieval times, the new occupants of the site did not create a new town and merely exploited the existing ancient monuments. This period turned over large quantities of Islamic ceramics, which date mainly from the 10th-11th centuries.
This site is among the largest and most important archaeological sites in Tunisia and counts dozens of monuments, only a few of which have been unearthed. Among the most important are the capitol, the main temple of the city which was dedicated to the Capitoline Triad: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. This sacred building is made up of three distinct temples: the main one, dedicated to Jupiter, flanked by two secondary ones, those of Juno and Minerva, all of which open onto the forum. In addition to the temple, set up on the ground floor and considered among the largest temples in North Africa, there are also two other floors.
After lunch you can Explore the Roman aqueduct of Zaghouan.
In the second century, under the rule of Emperor Hadrian, the Roman Empire found itself facing a problem (as was often the case) in northern Africa: they lacked a reliable water supply. In response, they decided to build an aqueduct connecting a water source at Zaghouan with the ancient city of Carthage. Much of the aqueduct remains standing today and you'll get to explore this incredible masterpiece of engineering while your expert guide explains its construction and design processes, which were well ahead of their time.
After exploring the ancient aqueduct, you'll continue on your tour to the outskirts of the modern city of Zaghouan, where you'll find another important archaeological site. This time, you'll visit the famous Roman Water Temple, which was also constructed under the orders of Emperor Hadrian. As you admire the elegant curved portico, your guide will reveal the significance of this sacred spring and why it was so venerated in ancient times.
Following your tour of the Water Temple, you'll be taken to a restaurant in central Zaghouan, where you'll be served a delicious traditional meal of typical Turkish specialities. The fusion of Mediterranean and Arab cuisines will make for a truly mouth-watering meal!
